Association of Chronic Low Back Pain with Anxiety in Workers of a Family Medicine Unit in Mexicali, Baja California. Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between anxiety and chronic low back pain in workers. Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study in 276 workers between 35 and 50 years of age with chronic low back pain from the Family Medicine Unit No. 16 of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexican Social Security Institute. The Hamilton Anxiety questionnaire was applied during the year 2022. Probabilistic sampling, the sample size was carried out with the formula of proportions with a reliability of 95%, the necessary sample being 270 patients with a diagnosis of chronic low back pain. Results: The frequency of anxiety in workers was 75.3%; 58.3% had mild anxiety and 17% had moderate to severe anxiety. Chronic low back pain (pain due to radiculopathy and non-specific pain) was associated with anxiety (p=0.0001) without considering two cases of pain due to systemic disease. Obesity predominated in 54.7% and chronic low back pain for less than one year. Conclusions: The level of anxiety is associated with chronic low back pain. The frequency of anxiety in workers with chronic low back pain was high. Obesity could be a possible cause for the exacerbation of pain in these patients.