Prevalence of Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Its Associated Factors among Middle-Aged and Elderly People: An Analysis Based on Data from a Musculoskeletal Examination in Japan

Yoichi Iizuka, Haku Iizuka, Tokue Mieda, Daisuke Tsunoda, Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Tajika, Atsushi Yamamoto, Kenji Takagishi, Yoichi Iizuka, Haku Iizuka, Tokue Mieda, Daisuke Tsunoda, Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Tajika, Atsushi Yamamoto, Kenji Takagishi

Abstract

Study design: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To clarify the prevalence of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) and its associated factors among middle-aged and elderly Japanese individuals using data from a musculoskeletal examination conducted in general Japanese populations.

Overview of literature: Most studies evaluating low back pain-associated factors have been conducted in Western countries, but they have not always evaluated CNSLBP.

Methods: We obtained data on 213 subjects aged >50 years who responded to a survey regarding age, gender, body mass index, lifestyle-related diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia), glucocorticoid use, smoking and alcohol-drinking habits, labor intensity, and chronic low back pain (CLBP) and underwent screening for lumbar spinal stenosis, evaluation for quality of life (QOL), and evaluation for specific spinal pathology via thoracolumbar spine X-rays. We investigated the prevalence of CNSLBP and association between CNSLBP and measured variables.

Results: The prevalence of CNSLBP and chronic specific low back pain (CSLBP) was 15.4% and 9.3%, respectively. Among the subjects with CLBP, 62.2% had CNSLBP. In age-adjusted logistic models, smoking habits (p=0.049, odds ratio [OR]=2.594), low back pain (p<0.001, OR=0.974), lumbar function (p=0.001, OR=0.967), and social function (p=0.023, OR=0.976) in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) were significantly associated with CNSLBP, whereas EQ-5D utility score (p=0.024, OR=0.068), low back pain (p=0.007, OR=0.981), lumbar function (p=0.001, OR=0.963), walking ability (p=0.001, OR=0.968), and social function (p=0.002, OR=0.966) in JOABPEQ were significantly associated with CSLBP.

Conclusions: CNSLBP among middle-aged and elderly individuals was associated with smoking habits and decreased QOL; however, CSLBP was considered to be more multilaterally associated decreased QOL.

Keywords: Life-style habits; Low back pain; Prevalence; Quality of life.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1. Flowchart representing the screening results…
Fig. 1. Flowchart representing the screening results of chronic nonspecific low back pain and chronic specific low back pain. CLBP, chronic low back pain; CSLBP, chronic specific low back pain; DLS, degenerative lumbar scoliosis; VF, vertebral fracture; LSS, lumbar spinal stenosis; CNSLBP, chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Fig. 2. Percentage of subjects with chronic…
Fig. 2. Percentage of subjects with chronic low back pain, chronic nonspecific low back pain, and chronic specific low back pain. CLBP, chronic low back pain; CNSLBP, chronic nonspecific low back pain; CSLBP, chronic specific low back pain; LSS, lumbar spinal stenosis; VF, vertebral fracture, DLS, degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

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