The Possible Association of Burnout and Neuropathic Low Back Pain Among Hungarian Postal Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Burnout is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon, which can be associated with a wide range of mental and physical illnesses. There is also a possible connection between burnout and neuropathic low back pain, but the association is poorly studied. Methods: The aim of our cross-sectional study was to analyze the prevalence and risk factors of chronic neuropathic low back pain taking many co-variates into account, such as burnout and its main determinants among postal workers. Demographic data, risk factors and concomitant diseases were recorded. Burnout was measured with the Mini Oldenburg Questionnaire (MOLBI), neuropathic low back pain was assessed by the painDETECT questionnaire, insomnia was detected by the Athen's Insomnia Scale and depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Three hundred sixty-eight males (35.6%) and six hundred sixty-six females (64.4%) participated in our study. Low back pain occured in 182 workers (17.6%), among them 36 workers (19.4%) had neuropathic low back pain, 56 (30.9%) had mixed pain and 90 (49.7%) workers had nociceptive low back pain. In a hierarchical regression analysis strong predictors of neuropathic low back pain included having secondary employment, depression, sleep disturbance and emotional exhaustion (main component of burnout). Conclusion: This is among the first studies showing a possible association between burnout and neuropathic low back pain, highlighting the importance of adequate burnout screening and the implementation of interventions to avoid significant disabilities.