What type of study is this?

This is a Cross-Sectional study.

September 10, 2025

The Impact of Sleep Quality on Disability, Pain, Mental Health, and Work Capacity in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Key Points

Poor sleep quality is linked to increased disability, with a strong positive correlation between sleep and disability scores.
Patients with worse sleep quality report higher pain intensity, correlating positively with pain ratings measured by the Visual Analog Scale.
There is a significant relationship between sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms in chronic low back pain patients.
Healthcare professionals should focus on assessing sleep as crucial for improving treatment outcomes in chronic low back pain.

Abstract

Sleep is a fundamental physiological need essential for recovery and overall well-being. In patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), sleep deprivation can lead to increased disability, prolonged pain, and reduced work capacity (1–2). Understanding the relationship between sleep and these clinical outcomes is crucial in developing effective pain and sleep management strategies. This cross-sectional study included patients aged 18 to 65 years with CLBP. Disability was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), pain intensity was measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), sleep quality was assessed through Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), depression symptoms were screened using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and work ability was evaluated using the Work Ability Index (WAI). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. A total of 162 patients were included. A strong positive correlation was found between PSQI and ODI scores (r = 0. 41, p < 0. 01), indicating that poorer sleep quality is associated with higher levels of disability. PSQI was also positively correlated with PHQ-2 scores (r = 0. 25, p < 0. 01), suggesting that patients with more disturbed sleep experience more severe depressive symptoms. A significant positive correlation was observed between PSQI and VAS scores (r = 0. 25, p < 0. 01), linking worse sleep quality to increased pain intensity. A strong negative correlation was identified between PSQI and WAI scores (r =−0. 43, p < 0. 01), showing that poorer sleep is associated with reduced work ability Our findings highlight the crucial role of sleep in influencing pain, disability, mental health, and work capacity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Healthcare professionals should prioritize the assessment and management of sleep disturbances as an integral part of CLBP treatment. Therefore future research should focus on developing targeted interventions aimed at improving sleep quality to better manage the impacts of CLBP improving patient outcomes. Study funded by PNRR-MAD-2022-12376692VADALA' – CUP F83C22002470001 project.

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