Julia Fm Gilmartin-Thomas1, Flavia M Cicuttini2, Alice J Owen3, Rory Wolfe4, Michael E Ernst5, Mark R Nelson6, Jessica Lockery7, Robyn L Woods8, Carlene Britt9, Danny Liew10, Anne Murray11, Barbara Workman12, Stephanie A Ward13, John J McNeil14. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: julia.gilmartin-thomas@monash.edu. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: Alice.Owen@monash.edu. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: Rory.Wolfe@monash.edu. 5. Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, Department of Family Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa. Electronic address: michael-ernst@uiowa.edu. 6. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia; Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania. Electronic address: Mark.Nelson@utas.edu.au. 7. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: jessica.lockery@monash.edu. 8. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: Robyn.Woods@monash.edu. 9. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: Carlene.Britt@monash.edu. 10. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: danny.liew@monash.edu. 11. Berman Center for Outcomes & Clinical Research, Minneapolis. Electronic address: amurray@bermancenter.org. 12. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: Barbara.Workman@monashhealth.org. 13. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales. Electronic address: stephanie.ward@monash.edu. 14. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004 Australia. Electronic address: John.McNeil@monash.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Low back pain is prevalent in older populations and modifiable risk factors may include being overweight or obese. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and impact of moderate or severe low back pain in community-dwelling older adults and its association with body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 16,439 Australians aged ≥70 years. Logistic regression was used to describe associations between the presence or absence of moderate or severe low back pain experienced on most days with BMI. Analyses were conducted separately for males and females, and controlled for age and depression at baseline. RESULTS: Of 14,155 pain question respondents, 11 % of males (n = 710/6475) and 18 % of females (n = 1391/7680) reported moderate or severe low back pain (total 15 %, n = 2101/14,155). Of those reporting moderate or severe low back pain (n = 2101), 55 % reported taking pain-relieving medication regularly, and 29 % reported that the pain regularly interfered with sleep, 37 % with walking, and 47 % with day to day activities. When age and depression were controlled for, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) association between moderate or severe low back pain and being overweight (females: odds ratio OR = 1.50, 95 % confidence interval CI = 1.27-1.76) or obese (males: OR = 2.23, 95 %CI = 1.77-2.80 and females: OR = 2.91, 95 %CI = 2.48-3.42). CONCLUSION: Moderate or severe low back pain is common, has a significant impact, and is associated with either an overweight or obese BMI among community-dwelling Australians aged ≥70 years.
OBJECTIVE: Low back pain is prevalent in older populations and modifiable risk factors may include being overweight or obese. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and impact of moderate or severe low back pain in community-dwelling older adults and its association with body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 16,439 Australians aged ≥70 years. Logistic regression was used to describe associations between the presence or absence of moderate or severe low back pain experienced on most days with BMI. Analyses were conducted separately for males and females, and controlled for age and depression at baseline. RESULTS: Of 14,155 pain question respondents, 11 % of males (n = 710/6475) and 18 % of females (n = 1391/7680) reported moderate or severe low back pain (total 15 %, n = 2101/14,155). Of those reporting moderate or severe low back pain (n = 2101), 55 % reported taking pain-relieving medication regularly, and 29 % reported that the pain regularly interfered with sleep, 37 % with walking, and 47 % with day to day activities. When age and depression were controlled for, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) association between moderate or severe low back pain and being overweight (females: odds ratio OR = 1.50, 95 % confidence interval CI = 1.27-1.76) or obese (males: OR = 2.23, 95 %CI = 1.77-2.80 and females: OR = 2.91, 95 %CI = 2.48-3.42). CONCLUSION: Moderate or severe low back pain is common, has a significant impact, and is associated with either an overweight or obese BMI among community-dwelling Australians aged ≥70 years.
Authors: Julia F-M Gilmartin-Thomas; Andrew Forbes; Danny Liew; John J McNeil; Flavia M Cicuttini; Alice J Owen; Michael E Ernst; Mark R Nelson; Jessica Lockery; Stephanie A Ward; Ljoudmila Busija Journal: Pain Pract Date: 2021-01-21 Impact factor: 3.183