European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background and Objectives: Low back pain with radicular symptoms is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and a leading cause of disability. Radicular back pain affects multiple nerve roots, resulting in pain, sensory loss, and motor dysfunction. Assessing the quality of life (QOL) provides valuable insights into the impact of health conditions and treatment outcomes. Low back pain significantly interferes with QOL and work performance. This study aimed to analyze the QOL in female patients with low back pain and radiculopathy. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted on 404 patients and healthy individuals at a medical college in India. The SF-36 questionnaire, which measures eight scores representing physical and mental components, was used to assess QOL. Results: Results from 364 eligible patients revealed significantly lower mean PCS and MCS scores compared to the normative population, indicating poorer QOL among low back pain patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, patients with low back pain and radiculopathy experience a diminished QOL compared to individuals without this condition. Therefore, efforts should be made to enhance patient care, focusing on improving QOL, as this aspect remains relatively unexplored.