Depression Symptoms Among Older Adults With and Without Subacute Low Back Pain.

PURPOSE: Lumbago, or low back pain (LBP), is a common musculoskeletal complaint among older adults that may also be associated with depression. The study objective was to investigate differences in Beck Depression Inventory depression symptoms scores among older adult patients with and without LBP.

DESIGN: This was a case-control study.

METHODS: A total of 152 older adult patients, recruited at an outpatient healthcare clinic (47 men, 105 women; 74.81 ± 6.9 years), were classified as having subacute LBP (n = 76) or non-LBP (n = 76) according to clinic records.

FINDINGS: Beck Depression Inventory scores (mean ± SD) among LBP patients (10.93 ± 6.18) were significantly higher compared to the non-LBP group (7.62 ± 5.70; p = .000085), whose scores indicated no depression symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Subacute LBP may represent a potential risk for increased depression among older adults.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early detection of depression will assist rehabilitation nurses in prescribing the beneficial physical rehabilitation and exercise programs or provide the information and treatment recommendations to older adults with subacute LBP and their families. Also, it should be part of a nursing staff prevention strategy for patients who suffer this common musculoskeletal disorder.