Association of quality of life with pain, anxiety and depression

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish associations between quality of life and pain, anxiety, and depression, in subjects aged 35 to 60 years old. Three hundred and four subjects were evaluated and divided into three groups according to pain features: chronic and widespread pain (CWP), local pain (LP), and sporadic pain (SP) groups. Pain intensity was assessed by means of a visual analog scale (VAS); anxiety by the State-trait anxiety inventory; depression, by the Beck depression scale; and quality of life, by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Subjects mean age was 49.1±6.8 years old; 80.3% were women; and 35% of the sample reported chronic widespread pain. Results show that the CWP group presented more intense pain, anxiety and depression, as well as worst quality of life, followed by LP and SP groups (p<0.001). A strong correlation was found between quality of life and depression (r=-0.73), and moderate ones between quality of life and pain (r=-0.41), anxiety-trait (r=-0.65) and anxiety-state (r=-0.58) (p<0.0001). Subjects with Data show negative correlation for quality of life and the variables assessed and the CWP group reported the most intense symptoms.