Abstract
Introduction: Low back pain is a common chronic condition and represents the second most frequent cause of medical consultations worldwide. It is estimated that up to 80% of the population experiences it at least once in their lifetime. Studies have reported that between 6.3% and 15.4% of individuals develop low back pain for the first time each year, with an annual recurrence risk ranging from 1.5% to 36%. Objective: To describe the quality of life using the SF-36 scale in patients aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of chronic low back pain who received pharmacological management prescribed by the pain clinic service with extended-release tapentadol for a minimum of 3 continuous months (12 weeks) at doses of 50 mg and 100 mg orally every 12 hours. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of chronic multifactorial low back pain lasting more than 3 months were included. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were extracted from electronic medical records. Data analysis employed the IQVIA Quality Metric scoring system, developed and validated by the creators of the SF-36 scale, to calculate individual and domain scores. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed, considering their nature and distribution type, using measures of central tendency and dispersion. Statistical analyses were conducted using the R programming language, version 4.3.3, a free and open-source software. Results: Treatment with tapentadol resulted in significant improvements in most domains of the SF-36 scale, demonstrating a positive impact on the perceived quality of life of patients. All eight evaluated domains showed statistically significant p-values (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that extended-release tapentadol treatment can enhance the perceived quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain, positively influencing physical, emotional, and social aspects. These findings reflect notable improvements in functionality and overall well-being by alleviating pain, thereby enabling patients to improve mobility and social interactions.References
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