Chronic low back pain and sleep disorders in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Gabriel Mendes; Rafael Zambelli Pinto; Samuel Silva; Marco Túlio de Mello; Andressa Silva

doi:10.2478/advrehab-2026-0006

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Chronic low back pain and sleep disorders in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Advances in Rehabilitation

Volume 40 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)

By: Gabriel Mendes , Rafael Zambelli Pinto , Samuel Silva , Marco Túlio de Mello and Andressa Silva

Open Access

|Mar 2026

Abstract

Introduction

Sleep disorders and chronic low back pain (CLBP) are prevalent conditions in older adults and can coexist in a bidirectional relationship. The aim was to investigate the associations between the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep quality with pain intensity and functional disability, and to estimate the prevalence of sleep complaints in older adults with CLBP.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study involving older adults with CLBP aged 60 years and above from primary care was conducted. Data collected included OSA risk (Berlin Questionnaire), excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), pain intensity (Numerical Pain Rating Scale), functional disability (Roland–Morris Questionnaire) and sleep complaints (Sleep Complaints Questionnaire). We performed descriptive analyses and ran six univariate and multivariable linear regression models (adjusted for potential confounders).

Results

Sleep quality was associated with disability, even after adjusting for confounders (0.25 [CI 95%: 0.07–0.43]). Sleep quality was also significantly associated with pain intensity (0.28 [CI 95%: 0.09–0.47]) in univariate analysis. The risk of OSA was associated with pain intensity (0.30 [CI 95%: 0.16–0.72]) and functional disability (0.33 [CI 95%: 0.20–0.75]), but only in univariate analysis. Excessive daytime sleepiness and pain intensity were negatively associated in a multivariable analysis (−0.21 [CI 95%: −0.42, to 0.01]). A prevalence of at least one sleep complaint was found in 96% of participants.

Conclusions

Poor sleep quality was associated with disability, and pain intensity appeared to worsen sleep. Routine screening and interventions for sleep problems could help reduce pain, disability and healthcare burden.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/advrehab-2026-0006 | Journal eISSN: 1734-4948

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Language: English

Page range: 87 - 103

Submitted on: Jul 16, 2025

Accepted on: Nov 4, 2025

Published on: Mar 31, 2026

Published by: University of Physical Education in Warsaw

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

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Physical and rehabilitation medicine,

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Sports and recreation, other

© 2026 Gabriel Mendes et al., published by Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Volume 40 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)