1.Prevalence and Correlates of Low Back Pain in Primary Care: What Are the Contributing Factors in a Rapidly Developing Country.
Abdulbari BENER ; Elnour Elnaeim DAFEEAH ; Khalid ALNAQBI
Asian Spine Journal 2014;8(3):227-236
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in the primary care setting with emphasis on the socio-demographic contributing factors and impact of LBP on lifestyle habits. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: LBP is one of the most common medical conditions seen in the Primary Health Care Clinic. METHODS: A representative sample of 2,600 patients were approached and 1,829 subjects agreed to participate in this study (70.0%). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, life style habits and type of treatment were collected through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of LBP in the study sample was 56.5% (95% confidence interval, 54.2-58.8). LBP was more prevalent among women (53.9%) compared to men (46.1%). There was significant difference between male and female patients of LBP in terms of ethnicity (p<0.001), marital status (p=0.010), occupation (p<0.001), monthly household income (p=0.004), and cigarette/sheesha smokers (p<0.001). The percentages of different aspects of functional disabilities were statistically significantly higher among females compared to male patients with LBP. Almost a quarter of female patients with LBP (26%) and 18% male patients with LBP reported pain in the arms and legs (p=0.002). In addition, gastrointestinal complaints such as abdominal pain and food intolerance were significantly higher among female patients with LBP as compared to males (31% vs. 24.6%, p=0.018; and 25% vs. 18%, p=0.008, respectively). Complaints about headache and fainting were also significantly higher among female patients as compared to male LBP patients (43% vs. 36%, p=0.029; and 26% vs. 20%, p=0.016, respectively). The multivariate logistic regression revealed that being female, prolonged standing, prolonged sitting, heavy weight lifting, weakness in the legs, regular exercise, and cigarette/sheesh a smoking had a significant effect on the presence of LBP. CONCLUSIONS: LBP is highly prevalent among both genders and in older age. Also, weakness in the legs, smoking, prolonged standing and sitting had a significant effect on LBP. Furthermore, the current study findings support the fact that LBP continues to be an important clinical, social and economic, burden and a public health problem affecting the population of the entire world.
Abdominal Pain
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Arm
;
Developing Countries*
;
Epidemiology
;
Family Characteristics
;
Female
;
Headache
;
Humans
;
Leg
;
Life Style
;
Logistic Models
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Low Back Pain*
;
Male
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Marital Status
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Occupations
;
Prevalence*
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Primary Health Care*
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Public Health
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Risk Factors
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Smoke
;
Smoking
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Syncope
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Weight Lifting
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Surveys and Questionnaires