The Relationship Between Neighborhood Deprivation and Perceived Changes for Pain-Related Experiences Among US Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fenan S. Rassu, Molly Mcfadden, Rachel V. Aaron, Stephen T. Wegener, Patti L. Ephraim, Elizabeth Lane, Gerard Brennan, Kate I. Minick, Julie M. Fritz, Richard L. Skolasky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could disproportionately affect the health of vulnerable populations, including patients experiencing persistent health conditions (i.e., chronic pain), along with populations living within deprived, lower socioeconomic areas. The current cross-sectional study characterized relationships between neighborhood deprivation and perceived changes in pain-related experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic (early-September to mid-October 2020) for adult patients (N = 97) with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Methods: We collected self-report perceived experiences from participants enrolled in an ongoing pragmatic randomized trial across medical centers within the Salt Lake City, Utah and Baltimore, Maryland metropolitans. The Area Deprivation Index (composite of 17 US Census deprivation metrics) reflected neighborhood deprivation based on participants' zip codes. Results: Although those living in the neighborhoods with greater deprivation endorsed significantly poorer physical (pain severity, pain interference, physical functioning), mental (depression, anxiety), and social health during the pandemic, there were no significant differences for perceived changes in pain-related experiences (pain severity, pain interference, sleep quality) between levels of neighborhood deprivation since the onset of the pandemic. However, those in neighborhoods with greater deprivation endorsed disproportionately worse perceived changes in pain coping, social support, and mood since the pandemic. Conclusions: The current findings offer evidence that changes in pain coping during the pandemic may be disproportionately worse for those living in deprived areas. Considering poorer pain coping may contribute to long-term consequences, the current findings suggest the need for further attention and intervention to reduce the negative effect of the pandemic for such vulnerable populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2550-2565
Number of pages16
JournalPain Medicine (United States)
Volume22
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2021

Keywords

  • COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Chronic Low Back Pain
  • Disparities
  • Neighborhood Deprivation
  • Pain Management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Relationship Between Neighborhood Deprivation and Perceived Changes for Pain-Related Experiences Among US Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain During the COVID-19 Pandemic'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this