tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Sci Rep
. 2025 Mar 7;15(1):8012.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-93178-z. Longitudinal study of central sensitization and chronic low back pain in a Japanese cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic
Shizumasa Murata[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hiroshi Hashizume[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Kanae Mure[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Hiroyuki Oka[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Shingo Inoue[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Seiji Kanno[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuki Matsuyama[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Takeru Ueno[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Akimasa Murata[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yusuke Kido[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mayumi Sonekatsu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Takashi Shimoe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hidenobu Tamai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ryo Taiji[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Takuhei Kozaki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Masatoshi Teraguchi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yoshio Enyo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Yukihiro Nakagawa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Nobuyuki Miyai[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Hiroshi Yamada[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
This study utilized a longitudinal survey in Japan to investigate whether higher Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) scores, serving as a proxy for central sensitization-related symptoms, are associated with an increased risk of developing chronic low back pain (CLBP), focusing on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on these conditions. Healthy volunteers (n = 227; mean age: 68.5 ± 9.5 years) were surveyed at baseline (July 2019) and at follow-up (October 2020). The participants were categorized into four groups based on their CLBP status: None, De novo, Continued, and Improved. CLBP prevalence increased from 26% at baseline to 32% at follow-up. Higher baseline CSI scores (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.09; p = 0.005) and older age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11; p = 0.007) were identified as significant risk factors for developing CLBP. The mean CSI scores exhibited a slight non-significant increase from 16.9 ± 11.4 to 17.1 ± 11.7. Participants who adhered more strictly to the COVID-19 guidelines and engaged in reduced physical activity reported a higher CLBP prevalence. Our findings suggest that early identification and management of central sensitization are crucial for improving clinical outcomes, particularly during periods of external stress, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Central sensitization; Central sensitization inventory (CSI); Chronic low back pain; Longitudinal study; Risk factor.
. 2025 Mar 7;15(1):8012.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-93178-z. Longitudinal study of central sensitization and chronic low back pain in a Japanese cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic
Shizumasa Murata[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hiroshi Hashizume[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Kanae Mure[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Hiroyuki Oka[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Shingo Inoue[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Seiji Kanno[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuki Matsuyama[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Takeru Ueno[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Akimasa Murata[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yusuke Kido[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mayumi Sonekatsu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Takashi Shimoe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hidenobu Tamai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ryo Taiji[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Takuhei Kozaki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Masatoshi Teraguchi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yoshio Enyo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Yukihiro Nakagawa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Nobuyuki Miyai[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Hiroshi Yamada[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 40055490
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-93178-z
This study utilized a longitudinal survey in Japan to investigate whether higher Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) scores, serving as a proxy for central sensitization-related symptoms, are associated with an increased risk of developing chronic low back pain (CLBP), focusing on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on these conditions. Healthy volunteers (n = 227; mean age: 68.5 ± 9.5 years) were surveyed at baseline (July 2019) and at follow-up (October 2020). The participants were categorized into four groups based on their CLBP status: None, De novo, Continued, and Improved. CLBP prevalence increased from 26% at baseline to 32% at follow-up. Higher baseline CSI scores (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.09; p = 0.005) and older age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11; p = 0.007) were identified as significant risk factors for developing CLBP. The mean CSI scores exhibited a slight non-significant increase from 16.9 ± 11.4 to 17.1 ± 11.7. Participants who adhered more strictly to the COVID-19 guidelines and engaged in reduced physical activity reported a higher CLBP prevalence. Our findings suggest that early identification and management of central sensitization are crucial for improving clinical outcomes, particularly during periods of external stress, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Central sensitization; Central sensitization inventory (CSI); Chronic low back pain; Longitudinal study; Risk factor.