PREVALENCE OF LOW BACK PAIN, DISABILITYAND SLEEP QUALITY IN ADULT ASTHMATIC PATIENTS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that extends beyond respiratory impairment, often leading to systemic complications such as musculoskeletal dysfunction and disturbed sleep. Low back pain (LBP) and poor sleep quality are increasingly recognized as comorbidities that worsen quality of life and functional independence in asthma patients. Understanding their interrelationship with asthma severity is essential for developing comprehensive, multidisciplinary care strategies.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and interrelationship of low back pain, functional disability, sleep quality, and asthma severity among adult asthma patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months at Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore, enrolling 100 adult asthma patients aged 20–60 years through non-probability purposive sampling. Asthma severity was classified according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines and evaluated using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), disability through the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and sleep quality with the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire (BNSQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, applying descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05.

Results: The mean age of participants was 45.2 ± 9.8 years, with 65% females and 35% males. The prevalence of LBP was 72%, including 37% with mild pain, 33% with moderate pain, and 2% with severe pain. Moderate to severe disability was observed in 60% of patients, while 27% reported poor sleep quality. Significant associations were found between asthma severity and VAS scores (p < 0.05), ODI levels (p < 0.05), and sleep quality (p = 0.002). Physical stressors such as prolonged standing and walking were also correlated with increased LBP (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Low back pain, disability, and sleep disturbance are highly prevalent among individuals with asthma, particularly those with severe or poorly controlled disease. These findings highlight the need for multidisciplinary management incorporating respiratory care, physiotherapy, and sleep health interventions to improve functional and overall well-being.