COVID-19 Through the Eyes of a Physiatrist: Back Pain Can Be a Symptom and May Predict Pneumonia in COVID-19

Abstract

The study aimed to determine whether back pain is a clinical manifestation in patients with COVID-19 and whether several demographic and disease characteristics could be an effective indicator of back pain. Materials and Methods. A total of 99 patients with COVID-19 were recruited from the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Kirikkale High Specialized Hospital in Turkey and divided into two groups depending on the presence (n=50) or absence of back pain (n=49). The primary outcomes included were demographic and disease characteristics, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study Physical Activity Level for Work (HUNT), and the 6-minute walking test. Results. The most common symptom was fatigue (n=63, 63.6%), followed by back pain (n=50, 50.5%). In the back pain group, the number of patients with sedentary lifestyle, oxygen requirement, pneumonia, and typical pneumonia pattern were significantly higher (p=0.009, p=0.026, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively), while aerobic capacity was lower (p=0.001). In a logistic regression analysis, back pain was found to be associated with pneumonia presence. Conclusions. Back pain may be associated with the presence of COVID-19 pneumonia and should be evaluated as its early warning symptom.