Quality of life and related factors in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: A controlled study

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) with that of the controls' and to investigate the factors related with the quality of life in LSS.

Fifty-four patients with LSS were included in the study whose diagnosis were made by clinically and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Control group consisted of age and sex matched 54 individuals. Both of the patient and control groups were evaluated with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). The Oswestry Pain and Disability Index (ODI) was used for the assessment of the disability.

SF-36 scores in the LSS group was lower than that of the controls'. There was a significantly positive correlation between the SF-36 scores and walking distance in LSS group. A moderately negative correlation was found between the SF-36 and the ODI, HADS anxiety and depression scores. There was a significantly positive correlation between the ODI and the HADS anxiety and depression scores. HADS anxiety and depression scores in the patient group were significantly higher than that of the controls'.

As a result, quality of life was decreased in subjects with LSS. The factors related with the quality of life were the walking distance, severity of the disability and emotional status in LSS.