Back Pain and Related Factors in Patients with COVID-19

Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether back pain is a clinical manifestation in patients with COVID-19, and to decide whether any demographic and disease characteristics might act as an effective indicator of back pain. Matherial and methods: Patients with COVID-19 (N: 99) were recruited from the infectious diseases department of a secondary care hospital and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of back pain. The main outcomes included were demographic and disease characteristics, and the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study Physical Activity Level for Work (HUNT) 6-minute walking test (6MWT). Results: : The most common symptoms were fatigue (n = 63, 63.6%), followed by back pain (n = 50, 50.5%). A sedentary lifestyle, oxygen requirement, the presence of pneumonia and typical pneumonia pattern were significantly higher (p = 0.009, p = 0.026, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively), and aerobic capacity was lower (p = 0001) in patients with back pain. The presence of back pain continued to be associated with the presence of pneumonia and reduced aerobic capacity in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: : Back pain may be associated with the presence and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia.