The Prevalence of Low Back Pain in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Oman

Abstract

Musculoskeletal diseases are frequently seen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The link between low back pain and type 2 diabetes mellitus remains unclear. This study aimed to find the prevalence of low back pain among Omani patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine patients’ disability related to low back pain. Methods: Two hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this cross sectional study, who attended the diabetic clinic in Suhar polyclinic and Suhar hospital, North Batinah, Oman. Data collection tool was a pretested structured questionnaire, as well as the medical records collection for all the participants. The patients’ related disability to low back pain was assessed using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Results: Of the 200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 60% (120) reported low back pain. From those who had low back pain, around half (50.8%) had a minimal disability and more than one third (37.6%) had a moderate disability related to low back pain. The low back pain was mostly present in females (65.9%), those with a family history of low back pain (87.6%) and those using insulin to control diabetes (100%), (P<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of low back pain is high among Omani patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and significantly high among females, those with a family history of low back pain and those using insulin to control diabetes. A significant percentage of patients had minimal to moderate disabilities related to low back pain which necessitate an implantation of the preventative and educational measures to minimize the burden of the low back pain among diabetic patients.