[Impact of COVID-19 pandemic confinement on musculoskeletal pain and quality of life].

Abstract

Introduction: in March 2020, lockdown was established in Spain because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to assess its impact on pain and quality of life in patients with musculoskeletal pain.

Material and methods: prospective study including 490 individuals grouped in: 140 people without pain, 140 people with musculoskeletal pain but without any related pathology diagnosed, 140 patients diagnosed for a musculoskeletal condition and 70 patients in surgical waiting list (SWL) for a musculoskeletal condition. Data regarding pain, physical activity and quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was collected at the beginning of lockdown and one year after (March 2021).

Results: mean age was 53 ± 17.5 years old (18-88) and 51.3% were women. Patients in SWL referred significantly more pain than the rest of groups (p < 0.001), with a score in the visual analogue scale of 6.3 ± 1.9. Groups 3 and 4 suffered a significant increase of their pain from 2020 to 2021 (p < 0.001), while decreasing in group 2 (p < 0.001). Analgesics intake grew from 2020 to 2021 (39.9% versus 44.3%, p = 0.007). 70.2% experienced a worsening of at least one dimension of EuroQol-5D over last year, with patients in SWL being the most affected (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: lockdown has caused in patients with musculoskeletal conditions a greater aggravation of pain and deterioration of quality of life than in the general population, especially in patients in SWL, translating in an increase in analgesics intake.