Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Jan-Feb;24(1):79-87.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.01.012. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Low back pain and some associated factors: is there any difference between genders?

Thiago Paulo Frascareli Bento  1 , Caio Vitor Dos Santos Genebra  2 , Nicoly Machado Maciel  2 , Guilherme Porfírio Cornelio  3 , Sandra Fiorelli Almeida Penteado Simeão  4 , Alberto de Vitta  2
Affiliations

Low back pain and some associated factors: is there any difference between genders?

Thiago Paulo Frascareli Bento et al. Braz J Phys Ther. 2020 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To compare men and women with low back pain and identify the prevalence and some of its associated factors in a population-based sample of adults aged 20 and over a seven day period.

Methods: Cross-sectional study based on a population survey. 600 individuals were interviewed on the following: (1) characteristics of the participants (i.e. demographic, socioeconomic, and labor aspects); (2) physical activity level (IPAQ); (3) musculoskeletal symptoms (Nordic Questionnaire). Descriptive, bivariate, and Poisson regression analyses were performed.

Results: Overall prevalence of LBP was 28.8%, being 39.0% in men and 60.9% in women. The measured associated factors in men were age between 36 and 59 years (PR=3.00 [1.31-6.88]) and over 60 (PR=4.52 [2.02-10.12]), smoking (PR=2.47 [1.20-5.11]), fewer years of formal education (0-4 years) (PR=6.37 [2.15-18.62]), and hypertension (PR=2.27 [1.15-4.50]). For women, the associated factors were occupational activities that involved heavy lifting (PR=1.80 [1.03-3.16]), standing posture leaning forward (PR=2.04 [1.20-3.44]), sitting posture leaning forward (PR=2.17 [1.24-3.82]), and sitting at the computer three or more days per week (PR=4.00 [1.44-11.11]). Widowed or divorced participants were more likely to report LBP, in both men (PR=3.06 [1.40-6.66]) and women (PR=2.11 [1.15-3.88]).

Conclusion: This study reveals high prevalence of low back pain in a seven day period. Older age, low education, hypertension, and smoking were associated with LBP in men. Occupational and ergonomic factors were associated with LBP in women. Marital status was associated with LBP in both genders.

Keywords: Gender factors; Low back pain; Prevalence; Risk factors.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Health Organisation . World Health Organization; Geneva: 2008. The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update.
    1. Hoy D., March L., Brooks P. The global burden of low back pain: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014;73(6):968–974. - PubMed
    1. Do Nascimento P.R.C., Costa L.O.P. Low back pain prevalence in Brazil: a systematic review. Cad Saúde Pública. 2015;31(6):1141–1156. - PubMed
    1. Bener A., Dafeeah E.E., Alnaqbi K. An epidemiologic analysis of low back pain in primary care: a hot humid country and global comparison. J Prim Care Community Health. 2013;4(3):220–227. - PubMed
    1. Leclerc A., Gourmelen J., Chastang J., Plouvier S., Niedhammer I., Lanoë J. Level of education and back pain in France: the role of demographic, lifestyle and physical work factors. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2009;82(5):643–652. - PMC - PubMed