Evaluation of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pain, stress, sleep and quality of life in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the association between the novel Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the level of pain, stress, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 18-65 years with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Age, gender, body mass index, systemic diseases, dominant pain area, duration of pain, analgesic use, and exercise habit before and after the pandemic were recorded. Participants were asked to evaluate their pain severity and global assessments in the last month and the pre-pandemic period with a visual analog scale (VAS). The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) were administered Results: The study included 100 participants (age, mean ± SD: 42.8±12.5 years, female: 69%). Compared with the pre-pandemic period, an increase in pain and global assessment scores, and poorer sleep hygiene in the last month were reported by 82%, 67%, and 66%, respectively. Pain severity VAS score (pre-pandemic: 3.9±2 vs. post-pandemic: 5.9±2.1, p