Low back pain and depression: A study in a population of Mexican workers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze whether lumbar spondyloarthrosis is associated with depression. A cross-sectional comparative survey was conducted, in which 99 workers insured by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS, according to its designation in Spanish), ranging from 23–55 years of age, participated. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that chronic lumbar spondyloarthrosis illness, when adjusted for participation in sports activity, was found to be associated with depression (OR = 3.4; CI 95% 1.2–9.4). This suggests that among those suffering said physical condition there is greater association with depressive symptoms. The study's results indicate the necessity of evaluating all workers with lumbar spondyloarthrosis for the presence of depression, and the suggestion is made that psychological support treatment be implemented in conjunction with physical treatment as a means of preventing depression.