Fear of COVID-19, physical activity practice and chronic pain symptoms in the postvaccination period

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restricted access to elective health services significantly affected individuals with chronic pain. Thus, we aimed to assess the connection between fear of COVID-19, physical activity levels, and the persistence of chronic pain post-vaccination period.

Conducted from December 2021 to June 2022, this cross-sectional observational study involved 507 participants, primarily females (54.4 %), aged 30-60 years (58.6 %), with 42.8 % reporting chronic pain. Participants completed an online questionnaire, including translated versions of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and the ImpactQ questionnaire designed for chronic pain assessment during the pandemic.

ImpactQ scores were notably lower in participants with chronic pain (p < 0.01), indicating a greater pandemic impact, with no sex-related interaction. Women exhibited significantly higher Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores (indicating more fear) than men (p < 0.01), irrespective of chronic pain. There was a significant negative correlation (R = - 0.231 ep < 0.001) between the ImpactQ score and Fear of COVID-19 Scale score; the higher the Fear of COVID-19 Scale score was, the lower the ImpactQ score (which denoted a greater impact of the pandemic on patients with chronic pain). No association was found between physical activity levels and chronic pain presence (p > 0.05) during work, commuting, or recreational activities assessed by GPAQ.

Even with the implementation of vaccines against COVID-19, individuals suffering from chronic pain continue to experience a substantial impact of the pandemic, especially women who still experience high fear of COVID-19.