Factors associated with chronic and acute back pain in Wales, a cross-sectional study

Steinthora Jonsdottir, Haroon Ahmed, Kristinn Tómasson, Ben Carter, Steinthora Jonsdottir, Haroon Ahmed, Kristinn Tómasson, Ben Carter

Abstract

Background: Back pain is one of the most common causes for disability in the working population. Some risk factors for back pain are well known, however little is known about factors uniquely associated with acute or chronic back pain. This study aimed to elucidate patterns uniquely associated with acute or chronic back pain.

Methods: This study performed secondary analysis of data from the Welsh Health Survey 2012, a nationwide cross-sectional survey. A multivariable analysis was carried out for risk factors found to be significantly associated with acute and chronic back pain.

Results: We found that increased BMI (aOR 1.20, 95% Cis 1.08, 1.33; BMI > 30), mental health score below average (aOR 1.59, 95% CIs 1.47, 1.72), having a degree (aOR 1.28, 95% CIs 1.12, 1.47) and being older than 24 years (P < 0.001) were associated with increased prevalence of acute back pain. Higher prevalence of chronic back pain was seen in individuals characterised by increased deprivation (WIMD) (aOR 1.61, 95% CIs 1.32, 1.96); increased age (aOR 7.34, 95% CIs 5.25, 10.26; for 65+); being female (aOR = 1.43, 95% CIs 1.27, 1.61); lower educational attainment (aOR 0.44, 95% CIs 0.36, 0.55) higher BMI (aOR = 1.60 95% CIs 1.38, 1.85; BMI > 30); poorer mental health score (aOR = 3.11 95% CIs 2.76, 3.51), and a sedentary lifestyle (aOR = 0.58, 95% CIs 0.49, 0.69; 3-5 days of light exercise).

Conclusion: Increased deprivation, female gender, and little exercise were uniquely associated with chronic back pain. These characteristics may help clinicians to intervene to prevent acute backpain resulting in chronic cases.

Keywords: Acute back pain; Chronic Back pain; Physical activity; Prevention; Risk factors.

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The data used in this study was obtained from a cross-sectional nationwide survey and data were anonymised. Ethical approval was included in Welsh Health Survey, and a local ethics committee ruled that participants were not required to be additionally consented for this study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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