Correlation of Social Determinants of Health and Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain; A Brief Report

Background Low back pain (LBP) ranks as one of the top contributors to disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Social determinants of health (SDoH) encompass a range of factors that play a pivotal role in shaping healthcare outcomes. We aimed to examine the differences in SDoH between patients with acute and chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). Methods This study was a retrospective case-control study on patients who were admitted to four tertiary hospitals affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. Relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were used to detect patients with LBP. Patients with specific diagnoses such as degenerative joint diseases or primary or secondary bone tumors were excluded. SDoH variables along with the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and Area Deprivation Index (ADI) were collected. Wilcoxon rank sum and Chi-square tests were performed to assess the difference between the cohorts. Results Of 2,278 patients who were labeled as chronic LBP, 17 were included. The number of female patients was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we didn’t observe any considerable difference between these two groups of patients regarding the SDoH, SVI, and ADI values. Conclusion The prevalence of chronic NSLBP in tertiary healthcare centers might be lower. SDoH, ADI, and SVI seem not to contribute to the chronicity of NSCLBP. Future research is needed to further our understanding of the risk factors associated with NSLBP, particularly in different healthcare settings. Significance/Implications Although, SDoH variables are mentioned as risk factors, considering the clinical setting when applying the knowledge seem to play an important role.