Karin Pieber, Katharina Viktoria Stein, Malvina Herceg, Anita Rieder, Veronika Fialka-Moser, Thomas E. Dorner
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-1010

Objective: To examine health satisfaction and its predictors in subjects with and without chronic low back pain.
Subjects: Data for subjects aged 15–64 years were sourced from an Austrian representative population-based nationwide survey including 6,194 men and 6,183 women.
Methods: Health satisfaction and its determinants were assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF).
Results: Prevalence of chronic low back pain was 8. 0% (range 7. 6–8. 3%; 95% confidence interval (CI)) in men and 8. 8% (range 8. 5–9. 2%) in women. The proportion of men, with and without chronic low back pain, who were dissatisfied with their health was 22. 5% and 5. 7% (p < 0. 001), respectively, and in women 28. 3% and 5. 4% (p < 0. 001), respectively. In subjects with chronic low back pain a multi-variate analysis revealed “not needing medical treatment to function in daily life” with odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) of 6. 3 (2. 6–15. 3) and 4. 2 (2. 1–8. 5) as the strongest predictor for health satisfaction in men and women, respectively. In men additionally “satisfaction with one’s sex life” and “satisfaction with work capacity”, OR: 6. 6 (2. 9–14. 8) and 3. 7 (1. 5–9. 3)were predictors for health satisfaction. In women, however “satisfaction with living conditions” OR: 3. 7 (1. 7–7. 9) was an additional predictor.
Conclusion: Important determinants for health satisfaction are aspects of life such as independence and managing daily activities. These aspects can be influenced by existing therapy options.