AB1389 DO PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN AND CENTRAL SENSITIZATION SHOW DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE?

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Common low back pain is a common reason for rheumatology consultation. Advances in neuroscience concerning pain have advanced its understanding in chronic musculoskeletal pathologies, in particular low back pain, The role of central sensitization (CS) on physical activity remains understudied. <h3>Objectives</h3> The objective of our study is to investigate the role of central sensitization in patients with low back pain and its impact on their physical performance. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a cross-sectional study that included any patient ≥ 18 years with low back pain presenting to the rheumatology department. Patients with psychiatric or memory disorders or who refused to participate in the study were excluded. Functional capacity was assessed by the Oswestry score (Oswestry Disability Index); a 10-item self-assessing questionnaire, each item contains 6 levels of answers that can be scored from 0 to 5. A total score is calculated, percentage of disability ranges from 0% (no disability) to 100% (complete disability). The interpretation of this scale is based on the scores: from 0 to 20%: minimal disability; from 20 to 40% moderate disability; from 40 to 60%: severe disability; from 60 to 80% crippling low back pain and beyond 80% the person is confined to bed. The physical performance of the patients was assessed by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), catastrophizing by the PCS (Pain Catastrophizing Scale) and the CS by the validated Moroccan version of the Central Sensitization Inventory Part A (CSI-A). This inventory has 2 parts: Part A measures a range of 25 somatic and emotional symptoms associated with central sensitization, scored from 0 (never) to 4 (always), for a possible total score of 100. Part B concerns the recording of previous diagnoses related to central sensitization (not used in our study). A CSI-A score ≥ 40 was the threshold considered for the definition of CS. <h3>Results</h3> We included 118 patients. The average age was 53.01+-14.09, 86.4% of the patients were women and 88.7% had comorbidities. The median duration of evolution was 8 [2-10] years. The mean pain VAS was 5.75+-2.07 and 71.5% of patients had an Oswestry score &gt;20.The average score of CS was 42.16+-17.67 while 53.4% had a CSI-A ≥ 40 The average walk test result was 377.64+-154.15 meters. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with CSI-A ≥40 and CSI-A &lt;40 with regard to the performance of the 6MWT (362.67 Vs 394.87, p=0.094). On the other hand, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to the pain VAS (6.00 Vs 5.47), p=0.017) and PCS score (33.03Vs 22.08, p=0.001) <h3>Conclusion</h3> Central sensitization does not seem to affect the physical performance of Moroccan patients with low back pain. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> NIL. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.