scholarly journals Level of Low Back Pain–Related Disability Is Associated with Risk of Subsequent Falls in an Older Population: Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS)

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 2377-2384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimihiko Kimachi ◽  
Miho Kimachi ◽  
Misa Takegami ◽  
Rei Ono ◽  
Shin Yamazaki ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To examine the longitudinal association between baseline disability due to low back pain (LBP) and future risk of falls, particularly significant falls requiring treatment, in a community-dwelling older population. Methods This was a prospective population-based cohort study using data from the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS; 2008–2010). A total of 2,738 residents aged ≥60 years were enrolled. LBP was assessed using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the level of LBP-related disability was divided into three categories (none, low, and medium to high). Incidence of falls over the following year was determined using a self-reported questionnaire after the one-year follow-up period. The risk ratio (RR) for LBP-related disability associated with any fall and any fall requiring treatment was estimated using log binomial regression models. Results Data were analyzed for 1,358 subjects. The prevalence of LBP at baseline was 16.4%, whereas 122 (8.9%) participants reported a low level of LBP-related disability and 101 (7.4%) reported medium to high levels of LBP-related disability. Incidence of any fall and falls requiring treatment was reported by 22.1% and 4.6% of participants, respectively. Subjects with medium to high levels of disability were more likely to experience subsequent falls (adjusted RR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21–1.95) and falls requiring treatment (adjusted RR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.41–4.60) than those with no LBP-related disability. Conclusions Level of LBP-related disability was associated with an increased risk of serious falls in a general population of community-living older adults. These findings can alert health care providers involved in fall prevention efforts to the important issue of activity-related disability due to LBP.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Compare ◽  
Paolo Marchettini ◽  
Cristina Zarbo

Background. Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common health problems worldwide. Purpose. To investigate the link between baseline demographic and occupational, medical, and lifestyle data with following psychological and occupational outcomes in a large sample of employees with LBP over a 3-year period. Study Design. Three-year prospective cohort study. Methods. Italian-speaking employees (N=4492) with a diagnosis of LBP were included. Screening at Time 1 was done in order to collect information about severity and classification of LBP, demographic, lifestyle, and occupational status data. Psychological distress (PGWBI) and occupational burden were assessed after 3 years. Results. After 3 years, employees with LBP not due to organic causes had an increased risk of psychological distress. Gender appears to be an important variable for following occupational burden. Indeed, being a white-collar man with a LBP without organic causes seems to be a protective factor for following work outcomes, while being a white-collar woman with a LBP not due to organic causes appears to be a risk factor for subsequent sick leave. Moreover, LBP severity affects psychological and occupational outcomes. Conclusion. Our findings have several implications that could be considered in preventive and supportive programs for LBP employees.


2020 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 105725
Author(s):  
Hao-Chin Wang ◽  
Yuan-Chih Su ◽  
Hsiang-Ning Luk ◽  
Jen-Hung Wang ◽  
Chung-Y Hsu ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e031749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica J Wong ◽  
Pierre Côté ◽  
Andrea C Tricco ◽  
Laura C Rosella

IntroductionLow back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability associated with high healthcare utilisation and costs. Mental health symptoms are negative prognostic factors for LBP recovery; however, no population-based studies have assessed the joint effects of LBP and mental health symptoms on healthcare utilisation. This proposed study will characterise the health system burden of LBP and help identify priority groups to inform resource allocation and public health strategies. Among community-dwelling adult respondents of five cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) in Ontario, we aim to assess the effect of self-reported LBP on healthcare utilisation and costs and assess whether this effect differs between those with and without self-reported mental health symptoms.Methods and analysisWe designed a dynamic population-based cohort study using linkages of survey and administrative data housed at ICES. The Ontario sample of CCHS (2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007/2008, 2009/2010, 2011/2012; total of ~1 30 000 eligible respondents) will be used to define the cohort of adults with self-reported LBP with and without mental health symptoms. Healthcare utilisation and costs will be assessed by linking health administrative databases. Follow-up ranges from 6 to 15 years (until 31 March 2018). Sociodemographic (eg, age, sex, education) and health behaviour (eg, comorbidities, physical activity) factors will be considered as potential confounders. Poisson and linear (log-transformed) regression models will be used to assess the association between LBP and healthcare utilisation and costs. We will assess effect modification with mental health symptoms on the additive and multiplicative scales and conduct sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of misclassification and residual confounding.Ethics and disseminationThis study is approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board. We will disseminate findings using a multifaceted knowledge translation strategy, including scientific conference presentations, publications in peer-reviewed journals and workshops with key knowledge users.


2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (12) ◽  
pp. 1603-1614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Verkerk ◽  
Pim A.J. Luijsterburg ◽  
Martijn W. Heymans ◽  
Inge Ronchetti ◽  
Annelies L. Pool-Goudzwaard ◽  
...  

Background Few data are available on the course of and predictors for disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the course of disability and identify clinically important prognostic factors of low-back-pain–specific disability in patients with CNSLBP receiving multidisciplinary therapy. Design A prospective cohort study was conducted. Methods A total of 1,760 patients with CNSLBP who received multidisciplinary therapy were evaluated for their course of disability and prognostic factors at baseline and at 2-, 5-, and 12-month follow-ups. Recovery was defined as 30% reduction in low back pain–specific disability at follow-up compared with baseline and as absolute recovery if the score on the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) was ≤20 points at follow-up. Potential prognostic factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Mean patient-reported disability scores on the QBPDS ranged from 51.7 (SD=15.6) at baseline to 31.7 (SD=15.2), 31.1 (SD=18.2), and 29.1 (SD=20.0) at 2, 5, and 12 months, respectively. The prognostic factors identified for recovery at 5 and 12 months were younger age and high scores on disability and on the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (Physical and Mental Component Summaries) at baseline. In addition, at 5-month follow-up, a shorter duration of complaints was a positive predictor, and having no comorbidity and less pain at baseline were additional predictors at 12-month follow-up. Limitations Missing values at 5- and 12-month follow-ups were 11.1% and 45.2%, respectively. Conclusion After multidisciplinary treatment, the course of disability in patients with CNSLBP continued to decline over a 12-month period. At 5- and 12-month follow-ups, prognostic factors were identified for a clinically relevant decrease in disability scores on the QBPDS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Brunner ◽  
André Meichtry ◽  
Davy Vancampfort ◽  
Reinhard Imoberdorf ◽  
David Gisi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is often a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary management to address patients’ multidimensional needs. Providing inpatient care for patients with LBP in primary care hospitals is a challenge. In this setting, interdisciplinary LBP management is often unavailable during weekends. Delays in therapeutic procedures may result in a prolonged length of hospital stay (LoS). The impact of delays on LoS might be strongest in patients reporting high levels of psychological distress. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of weekday of admission and distress on LoS of inpatients with LBP. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 1 February 2019 and 31 January 2020. In part 1, a negative binomial model was fitted to LoS with weekday of admission as a predictor. In part 2, the same model included weekday of admission, distress level, and their interaction as covariates. Planned contrast was used in part 1 to estimate the difference in log-expected LoS between group 1 (admissions Friday/Saturday) and the reference group (admissions Sunday-Thursday). In part 2, the same contrast was used to estimate the corresponding difference in (per-unit) distress trends. Results We identified 173 patients with LBP. The mean LoS was 7.8 days (SD = 5.59). Patients admitted on Friday (mean LoS = 10.3) and Saturday (LoS = 10.6) had longer stays, but not those admitted on Sunday (LoS = 7.1). Analysis of the weekday effect and planned contrast showed that admission on Friday or Saturday was associated with a significant increase in LoS (log ratio = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.63). A total of 101 patients (58%) returned questionnaires, and complete data on distress were available from 86 patients (49%). According to the negative binomial model for LoS and the planned contrast, the distress effect on LoS was significantly influenced (difference in slopes = 0.816, 95% CI = 0.03 to 1.60) by dichotomic weekdays of admission (Friday/Saturday vs. Sunday-Thursday). Conclusions Delays in interdisciplinary LBP management over the weekend may prolong LoS. This may particularly affect patients reporting high levels of distress. Our study provides a platform to further explore whether interdisciplinary LBP management addressing patients’ multidimensional needs reduces LoS in primary care hospitals.


1979 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-214
Author(s):  
Paul H. Rockey ◽  
Jane Fantel ◽  
Gilbert S. Omenn

AbstractIn screening the majority of job applicants, most of this nation's railroads administer a low-back X-ray examination in an attempt to ascertain the likelihood that the applicant will sustain future work-related low-back pain or injury. Many applicants are rejected for employment on the basis of the X-ray findings. The railroads apparently perceive this screening program as a cost-effective means (1) of decreasing the incidence of compensation claims for work-related injuries, brought against the rail-roads under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), (2) of reducing the number of lost workdays resulting from low-back pain or injury, and (3) of protecting particularly susceptible workers from job-related hazards.The authors of this Article submit that low-back X-ray examinations are poor predictors of future low-back pain or injury. They assert that the railroads' use of such examinations misclassifies a substantial number of job applicants as being at increased risk for such pain or injury, and, in consequence, unfairly denies them employment. Furthermore, the authors claim, the screening program has other negative consequences. For example, applicants rejected for railroad employment on the basis of X-ray findings may as a result have difficulty finding jobs in other industries. In addition, they state, there is a potential radiation hazard to examinees. Moreover, both the railroads and those applicants accepted for employment may inappropriately be reassured by normal findings.On balance, the authors conclude, the screening program has a negative social value. The authors suggest that the program, in effect, erroneously labels many applicants as handicapped, and then denies them employment. Such persons might have legal recourse under federal and state statutes prohibiting employment discrimination against the handicapped.


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