Patient-reported outcomes measured with and without dizziness associated with non-specific chronic neck pain: implications for primary care

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disability and fear of movement in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP) associated with dizziness with respect to patients with isolated NSCNP in primary care settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a primary care center. A total of 120 patients were divided into two groups and analyzed in this study. One group of patients reported dizziness combined with NSCNP (n = 60), and the other reported no dizziness with their NSCNP (n = 60). Patient-reported outcome measurements were HRQoL (primary outcome) and disability and kinesiophobia (secondary outcomes) assessed by the EuroQoL Five Dimensions and Five Levels (EQ-5D-5L), neck disability index (NDI) and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), respectively. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) for a 95% confidence interval (CI) with a large effect size (Cohen d) were found between both groups with greater values of disability (mean difference = 6.30 points; 95% CI [3.84–8.75]; d = 0.94) and kinesiophobia (mean difference = 8.36 points; 95% CI [6.07–10.65]; d = 1.33), and an impairment of HRQoL (mean difference = 16.16 points; 95% CI [11.09–21.23]; d = 1.16), for patients with NSCNP associated with dizziness with respect to patients with isolated NSCNP. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NSCNP in conjunction with dizziness present higher HRQoL impairment and higher disability and kinesiophobia compared to patients with isolated NSCNP.