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. 2017 Jan 17;7(1):e012901.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012901.

Generic prognostic factors for musculoskeletal pain in primary care: a systematic review

Majid Artus  1 , Paul Campbell  1 , Christian D Mallen  1 , Kate M Dunn  1 , Danielle A W van der Windt  1
Affiliations

Generic prognostic factors for musculoskeletal pain in primary care: a systematic review

Majid Artus et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: To summarise the evidence for generic prognostic factors across a range of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

Setting: primary care.

Methods and outcomes: Comprehensive systematic literature review. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and EMBASE were searched for prospective cohort studies, based in primary care (search period-inception to December 2015). Studies were included if they reported on adults consulting with MSK conditions and provided data on associations between baseline characteristics (prognostic factors) and outcome. A prognostic factor was identified as generic when significantly associated with any outcome for 2 or more different MSK conditions. Evidence synthesis focused on consistency of findings and study quality.

Results: 14 682 citations were identified and 78 studies were included (involving more than 48 000 participants with 18 different outcome domains). 51 studies were on spinal pain/back pain/low back pain, 12 on neck/shoulder/arm pain, 3 on knee pain, 3 on hip pain and 9 on multisite pain/widespread pain. Total quality scores ranged from 5 to 14 (mean 11) and 65 studies (83%) scored 9 or more. Out of a total of 78 different prognostic factors for which data were provided, the following factors are considered to be generic prognostic factors for MSK conditions: widespread pain, high functional disability, somatisation, high pain intensity and presence of previous pain episodes. In addition, consistent evidence was found for use of pain medications not to be associated with outcome, suggesting that this factor is not a generic prognostic factor for MSK conditions.

Conclusions: This large review provides new evidence for generic prognostic factors for MSK conditions in primary care. Such factors include pain intensity, widespread pain, high functional disability, somatisation and movement restriction. This information can be used to screen and select patients for targeted treatment in clinical research as well as to inform the management of MSK conditions in primary care.

Keywords: PRIMARY CARE; Prognosis; Prognostic Factors; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Results of literature search and study selection. MSK, musculoskeletal; RCT, randomised controlled trial.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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