[01] Hammed I. Adebisi, Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. [02] Mukadas O. Akindele, Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. [03] Isa Usman Lawal, Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) is characterized by high incidence of poor self-rated health. This study investigated socio demographic correlates of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in subjects with LBP. Two separate self-rated questionnaires (the socioeconomic status questionnaire (SSQ) and generic SF-36 questionnaire) were administered to each of the participants to evaluate both socioeconomic statuses (SES) and HRQoL respectively. METHODS: A total of 100 subjects with non-specific LBP of mechanical origin, aged 21-70 years participated in this study. Relationship between HRQoL and socio demographic variables (age, gender, marital status, clinical characteristic of morbidity and SES) was analysed using Pearson product moment coefficient of correlation, and the differences in HRQoL across categories of SES were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The outcome of this study indicated that SES is the only socio demographic variable correlating significantly (p<0.05) with all the domains of HRQoL. In specific terms, the outcome suggested that low SES is associated with poor HRQoL components. However, old age, female gender, being single and chronic LBP were all found to associate poorly with HRQoL (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study therefore concluded that in this population the most important determinant of HRQoL in LBP patients is SES. The implication of this finding is viewed in three different perspectives; first poor SES could precipitate the onset of initial episode of LBP, second poor SES might lead to poor rehabilitation outcome and long standing LBP can precipitate low SES.

Health Related Quality of Life, Pain, Socioeconomic Status

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