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Abstract Title: - Identifying Factors that Influence the Transition from Acute to Chronic Low Back Pain in Black/African Americans

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Bright Eze: Virtual Presentation

University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, CT, USA and University of Florida

Abstract:

Description:

The first specific aim is to Identify differences in psychosocial (pain severity and interference, perceived stress, mood, and coping) and sensory (pressure pain) factors between Black/African Americans and NHW participants with low back pain at acute onset and at 6-month follow-up and aim two is to identify DEGS between Blacks and NHWs with low back pain at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Introduction/Significance:

Introduction/Significance::

Chronic pain is one of the major public health problems in the US, & a leading cause of disability. Although Black/African Americans do not necessarily have a higher overall prevalence of chronic low back pain, they carry a disproportionate burden of pain compared to Non-Hispanic White individuals.

Method:

A secondary analysis of demographic variables, pain, stress, mood, coping, pressure pain, and gene expression profiles was carried out among 36 Black/African Americans and 29 Non-Hispanic Whites who had transitioned from acute to chronic low back pain. Stored blood samples from the parent study were sequenced to identify differential gene expression profiles.

Results/Outcomes:

Black/African Americans reported significantly increased pain intensity, different use of coping strategies and exhibited increased localized pain sensitivity (pressure pain) at the onset of acute low back pain compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. At both bassline and 6-month follow-up, factors such as Coping components, pressure pain thresholds, pain interference, and pain intensity influenced the transition from acute to chronic low back pain among black and NHWs. Differentially expressed genes encoding for inflammatory, immunological, and stress response mediators were identified among Black/African Americans compared to Non-Hispanic Whites.

Discussion/Conclusion:

The findings from this study identified differences in the psychosocial and neurobiological factors that contribute to the acute to chronic pain trajectory among Black/African Americans compared to Whites. Factors noted were poor coping, pressure pain thresholds, intensity, & interference.

Keywords:

Black/African Americans, keyword2: Chronic low back pain, Keyword3: Differential gene expression

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