Chronic low back pain is associated with compromised cognitive function: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 4 2区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Journal of Pain Pub Date : 2025-08-01 DOI:10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105475

Noelani Sobott MProfPsych , Meagan E. Crowther PhD , Grace E. Vincent PhD , Daniel L. Belavý PhD , Paul Buntine MBBS(Hons) MClinRes FACEM , Sally A. Ferguson PhD , Niamh L. Mundell PhD , Madeline Sprajcer PhD , Scott D. Tagliaferri PhD , Jamie L. Tait PhD , Kate Vincent MBBS , Patrick J. Owen PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

We compared domain-specific cognitive function between adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and pain-free controls. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to 21 February 2025. Pairwise random-effects meta-analysis estimated standardised mean difference (Hedges’ g). Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach assessed certainty of evidence. JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies assessed risk of bias. Twenty-six studies (participants: 5572) were included. Compared to pain-free controls, adults with CLBP performed worse on tests of executive function (g [95%CI]: 0.50 [0.27, 0.74], P<0.001, GRADE: very low), global cognition (−0.23 [−0.43, −0.04], P=0.018, GRADE: low), memory (−0.65 [−0.90, −0.41], P<0.001, GRADE: very low), motor skills (0.44 [0.25, 0.64], P<0.001, GRADE: very low), and processing speed (0.27 [0.03, 0.51], P=0.027, GRADE: very low), yet not attention (−0.32 [−1.29, 1.68], P=0.363, GRADE: very low), language (−0.57 [−4.27, 3.13], P=0.302, GRADE: very low), and perception (−0.19 [−1.43, 1.05], P=0.584, GRADE: very low). CLBP may be associated with slightly worse global cognition. CLBP may also be associated with worse executive function, memory, motor skills, and processing speed, but the evidence is very uncertain. While there is a lack of evidence regarding causal mechanisms, assessing cognitive function among adults with CLBP appears warranted. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42022356396).

Perspective

This systematic review and meta-analysis compared domain-specific cognitive function between adults with chronic low back pain and pain-free controls. While there is a lack of evidence regarding causal mechanisms, assessing cognitive function among adults with chronic low back pain appears warranted.

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慢性腰痛与认知功能受损相关：一项系统综述和荟萃分析。

我们比较了成人慢性腰痛（CLBP）和无痛对照患者的领域特异性认知功能。PubMed， CINAHL, PsycINFO， EMBASE和CENTRAL检索自成立至2025年2月21日。两两随机效应荟萃分析估计标准化平均差异（Hedges’g）。评价、发展和评价（GRADE）方法评估证据的确定性。JBI分析性横断面研究关键评估清单评估偏倚风险。纳入了26项研究（参与者：5572人）。与无痛对照组相比，患有CLBP的成年人在执行功能测试中的表现更差(g [95%CI]: 0.50 [0.27, 0.74]， P

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来源期刊

Journal of Pain 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

7.50%

发文量

441

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Pain publishes original articles related to all aspects of pain, including clinical and basic research, patient care, education, and health policy. Articles selected for publication in the Journal are most commonly reports of original clinical research or reports of original basic research. In addition, invited critical reviews, including meta analyses of drugs for pain management, invited commentaries on reviews, and exceptional case studies are published in the Journal. The mission of the Journal is to improve the care of patients in pain by providing a forum for clinical researchers, basic scientists, clinicians, and other health professionals to publish original research.