Low back pain classifications and their associations with disability, quality-of-life, and sociodemographic factors: a comprehensive examination using the PainDETECT questionnaire.

Low back pain (LBP) is a debilitating phenomenon that significantly impacts quality-of-life (QoL). The PainDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) is a screening tool aimed at distinguishing nociceptive pain (NoP) and neuropathic pain (NeP) classifications. Associations between these classifications and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and sociodemographic parameters are yet to be established. The study aimed to determine the relationship between NeP as assessed by the PD-Q and pain, disability, QoL, and sociodemographic factors. A retrospective analysis of an ongoing prospectively collected database was conducted involving 512 patients aged >18 years who presented to a tertiary spine clinic for LBP having completed the PainDETECT questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol Five-Dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaire, or answered questions regarding sociodemographic status. The NeP group had a higher mean numerical rating scale (NRS) score (7.96