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

Characteristics	(n = 100)
Age (years)	69.8 ± 6.6
Female sex	69 (69)
BMI	27.3 ± 5.2
Marital status
Single	22 (22)
Married	45 (45)
Divorced	18 (45)
Widower	15 (15)
Education level
Illiterate	2 (2)
Primary school	43 (43)
Secondary school	40 (40)
University degree	15 (15)
Occupational status
Paid activity	21 (21)
No paid activity	79 (79)
CLBP duration (weeks)
12–23	6 (6)
24–35	5 (5)
36–52	6 (6)
>52	83 (83)
Practice of physical activity
Yes	39 (39)
No	61 (61)
Medications in use (number)	3.7 ± 2.5
Use of sleep-inducing medications	31 (31)
Total hours of sleep (per night)	6.2 ± 1.6
Pain intensity (0–10 points)	7.6 ± 1.8
Functional disability (0–24 points)	13.3 ± 5.3
OSA risk
No risk	12 (12)
Low risk	50 (50)
High risk	36 (36)
Excessive daytime sleepiness (0–24 points)	7.3 ± 5.0
Sleep quality (0–21 points)	8.54 ± 4.0
Depression symptoms (0–15 points)	4.9 ± 4.1
Comorbidities (total)	5.5 ± 2.3

[i] BMI - body mass index, CLBP - chronic low back pain, OSA - obstructive sleep apnoea.

[ii] Data expressed by mean ± standard deviation or frequency (percentage).

Table 2.

Results of univariate linear regressions and multivariable linear regressions between the risk of OSA (independent variable) and pain intensity and functional disability (dependent variables)

Pain intensity (NPRS)				Functional disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire)
Independent variables: OSA risk (Berlin Questionnaire); dependent variables: pain intensity (NPRS) and functional disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire); covariates: age, depressive symptoms (GDS-15), BMI, occupational status, comorbidities number.
	R2 (adjusted R2), %	Coefficient β (CI 95%)	p value		R2 (adjusted R2), %	Coefficient β (CI 95%)	p value
Univariate linear regression model				Univariate linear regression model
(constant)	9.1 (8.1)	6.72 (6.00–7.43)	0.00	(constant)	10.7 (9.8)	10.19 (8.12–12.26)	0.00
OSA risk (Berlin Questionnaire)		0.30 (0.16–0.72)	0.00^a	OSA risk (Berlin Questionnaire)		0.33 (0.20–0.75)	0.00^a
Multivariable linear regression model				Multivariable linear regression model
(constant)	16.5 (11.1)	2.72 (−1.98 to 7.42)	0.25	(constant)	47.2 (43.8)	0.13 (−10.86 to 11.12)	0.98
Age		0.09 (−0.10 to 0.28)	0.36	Age		−0.02 (−0.17 to 0.14)	0.83
Depressive symptoms (GDS-15)		0.19 (−0.01 to 0.40)	0.06	Depressive symptoms (GDS-15)		0.52 (0.35–0.67)	0.00^a
BMI		0.13 (−0.08 to 0.33)	0.22	BMI		0.25 (0.09–0.41)	0.00^a
Occupational status		0.12 (−0.07 to 0.31)	0.20	Occupational status		0.07 (−0.08 to 0.22)	0.38
Comorbidities number		0.07 (−0.14 to 0.28)	0.53	Comorbidities number		0.16 (−0.01 to 0.33)	0.06
OAS risk (Berlin Questionnaire)		0.19 (−0.03 to 0.59)	0.07	OSA risk (Berlin Questionnaire)		0.05 (−0.17 to 0.32)	0.53

BMI - body mass index, GDS-15 - geriatric depression scale, NPRS - numerical pain rating scale, OSA - obstructive sleep apnoea.

Effect size (β): 0.10–0.29 = small; 0.30–0.49 = moderate; ≥ 0.50 = strong.

a - Statistically significant.

Table 3.

Results of univariate linear regressions and multivariable linear regressions between excessive daytime sleepiness (independent variable) and pain intensity and functional disability (dependent variables)

Pain intensity (NPRS)				Functional disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire)
Independent variables: excessive daytime sleepiness; dependent variables: pain intensity (NPRS) and functional disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire); covariates: age, depressive symptoms (GDS-15), BMI, occupational status, comorbidities number.
	R2 (adjusted R2), %	Coefficient β (CI 95%)	p value		R2 (adjusted R2), %	Coefficient β (CI 95%)	p value
Univariate linear regression model				Univariate linear regression model
(constant)	0.00 (−0.01)	7.72 (7.01–8.37)	0.00	(constant)	11.3 (10.4)	10.60 (8.82–12.44)	0.00
Excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale)		−0.02 (−0.22 to 0.18)	0.84	Excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale)		0.34 (0.15−0.53)	0.00^a
Multivariable linear regression model				Multivariable linear regression model
(constant)	18.2 (12.8)	1.61 (−3.09 to 6.32)	0.50	(constant)	48.4 (45.0)	0.40 (−10.65 to 11.45)	0.94
Age		0.12 (−0.07 to 0.31)	0.22	Age		−0.02 (−0.17 to 0.14)	0.83
Depressive symptoms (GDS-15)		0.28 (0.07–0.47)	0.01^a	Depressive symptoms (GDS-15)		0.52 (0.36–0.68)	0.00^a
BMI		0.23 (0.03–0.43)	0.02	BMI		0.24 (0.08–0.40)	0.00^a
Occupational status		0.15 (−0.04 to 0.34)	0.12	Occupational status		0.06 (−0.09 to 0.21)	0.44
Comorbidities number		0.16 (−0.05 to 0.37)	0.14	Comorbidities number		0.14 (−0.02 to 0.31)	0.09
Excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale)		−0.21 (−0.42 to −0.01)	0.04	Excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale)		0.10 (−0.06 to 0.27)	0.23

BMI - body mass index, GDS-15 - geriatric depression scale, NPRS - numerical pain rating scale.

Effect size (β): 0.10–0.29 = small; 0.30–0.49 = moderate; ≥0.50 = strong.

a - Statistically significant.

Table 4.

Results of univariate linear regressions and multivariable linear regressions between sleep quality (independent variable) and pain intensity and functional disability (dependent variables)

Pain intensity (NPRS)				Functional disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire)
Independent variables: Sleep Quality (PSQI); dependent variables: pain intensity (NPRS) and functional disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire); covariates: age, depressive symptoms (GDS-15), BMI, occupational status, comorbidities number.
	R2 (Adjusted R2), %	Coefficient β (CI 95%)	p value		R2 (Adjusted R2), %	Coefficient β (CI 95%)	p value
Univariate linear regression model				Univariate linear regression model
(constant)	8.0 (7.0)	6.59 (5.76–7.41)	0.00	(constant)	28.8 (28.1)	7.14 (4.99–9.28)	0.00
Sleep quality (PSQI)		0.28 (0.09–0.47)	0.00^a	Sleep quality (PSQI)		0.54 (0.37–0.71)	0.00^a
Multivariable linear regression model				Multivariable linear regression model
(constant)	15.5 (10.0)	2.21 (−2.55 to 6.97)	0.36	(constant)	51.0 (47.8)	−1.65 (−12.30 to 9.00)	0.76
Age	0.09 (−0.10 to 0.29)	0.34	Age	−0.01 (−0.16 to 0.14)	0.88
Depressive symptoms (GDS-15)		0.15 (−0.08 to 0.38)	0.20	Depressive symptoms		0.41 (0.23–0.58)	0.00^a
BMI		0.16 (−0.04 to 0.36)	0.12	BMI		0.24 (0.08 to 0.39)	0.00^a
Occupational status		0.14 (−0.05 to 0.34)	0.15	Occupational status		0.10 (−0.04 to 0.25)	0.16
Comorbidities number		0.09 (−0.12 to 0.30)	0.41	Comorbidities number		0.14 (−0.02 to 0.30)	0.09
Sleep quality (PSQI)		0.17 (−0.06 to 0.41)	0.15	Sleep quality (PSQI)		0.25 (0.07–0.43)	0.01^a

BMI - body mass index, GDS-15 - geriatric depression scale, NPRS - numerical pain rating scale, PSQI - Pittsburgh sleep quality index.

Effect size (β): 0.10–0.29 = small; 0.30–0.49 = moderate; ≥0.50 = strong.

a - Statistically significant.

Table 5.

Prevalence of sleep complaints (n = 100)

Sleep complaints	‘Do you have any of the following problems during sleep?’, n (%)	‘How frequent is the problem?’, n (%)
Sleep complaints		Less than once a month	Once a month	2–3 times a month	1–2 times a week	3 or more times a week
Any sleep complaint	96 (96)^a	-	-	-	-	-
Insufficient sleep	55 (55)^a	4 (4)	3 (3)	3 (3)	17 (17)	28 (28)
Snoring	57 (57)^a	5 (5)	2 (2)	5 (5)	13 (13)	32 (32)
Insomnia	53 (53)	4 (4)	8 (8)	5 (5)	9 (9)	27 (27)
Excessive daytime sleepiness	31 (31)	1 (1)	3 (3)	3 (3)	10 (10)	14 (14)
Nocturnal awakening	76 (76)^a	6 (6)	1 (1)	3 (3)	11 (11)	55 (55)^a
Breath complaints	23 (23)	4 (4)	3 (3)	4 (4)	2 (2)	10 (10)
Move a lot during sleep	49 (49)	1 (1)	1 (1)	0 (0)	10 (7)	37 (37)
Kick legs	33 (33)	3 (3)	1 (1)	0 (0)	5 (5)	24 (24)
Sleep-talking	19 (19)	4 (4)	4 (4)	3 (3)	3 (3)	5 (5)
Nightmare	41 (41)	9 (9)	12 (12)	6 (6)	11 (11)	3 (3)
Bruxism	31 (31)	3 (3)	8 (8)	4 (4)	1 (1)	15 (15)
Sleepwalking	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Other complaints	5 (5)	-	-	-	-	-

a - Most prevalent.

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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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© 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)

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

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