Association of Low Back Pain and Pregnancy During COVID-19 Pandemic
Hilal Serifoğlu1, Sevcan Arzu Arınkan2, Fisun Vural3, Özge Pasin4, Tuğçe Pasin5, Mustafa Efendioğlu61Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tuzla City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye2Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital, Kristianstad, Sweden
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpasa Numune Health Application and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
4Department of Biostatistics, Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
5Department of Pysical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Goztepe Prof. Dr. Suleyman Yalcın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
6Department of Neurosurgery, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpasa Numune Health Application and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
INTRODUCTION: The most common musculoskeletal problems associated with pregnancy are low back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain. The belief that LBP is a problem that occurs during the normal course of pregnancy and it will go away after delivery impairs women’s quality of life. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of LBP and the factors associated with LBP in pregnant women in Türkiye. It also aims to increase health-care professionals’ awareness of this situation.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 147 pregnant women who applied to the obstetric clinic of Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital between September 2020 and December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. All questionnaires were filled in by a single midwife during face-to-face interviews. Functional disability was measured by the Turkish version of the Oswestry Disability Index.
RESULTS: The prevalence of pregnancy-related low back pain (PRLBP) was 86%. The prevalence of a history of LBP is 44%. Pregnant with a history of LBP had higher PRLBP during pregnancy (94.2%, p<0.001). Age, gestational week, and weight gain during pregnancy were the risk factors related to PRLBP (p<0.05). Women with PRLBP had significantly increased Oswestry score, maternal age, gestational age, and weight gain compared to pregnant without LBP (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A significant increase in the prevalence of PRLBP was observed in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Especially, young pregnant with excess weight gain during pregnancy and LBP history are candidates for PRLBP.
Manuscript Language: English