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Epidemiology of musculoskeletal pain in primary care
1CS Estrecho de Corea, Instituto Madrileño de la Salud, Atención Primaria Area 4. C/Estrecho de Corea 1, 28027 Madrid, Spain. deinocjm@eresmas.net
Insights
Musculoskeletal pain is common in children, increasing with age. Trauma, overuse, and osteochondroses are the main causes, accounting for nearly 80% of cases in primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Primary Care
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a frequent concern in pediatric primary care.
- Understanding its prevalence, common complaints, and causes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of children evaluated for MSP in a pediatric primary care clinic.
- To describe office visit frequency for MSP.
- To categorize common presenting complaints and identify the primary etiologies of MSP in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of children aged 3-14 years.
- Data collected from an urban pediatric primary care clinic in Madrid (1997-1999).
Main Results:
- 317 children were evaluated for MSP; prevalence increased with age (2.4-5.7% at age 3 to 27.5-36% at age 14).
- MSP accounted for 6.1% of office visits (397/6500).
- Arthralgias and soft tissue pain were most common (65%). Trauma (44%), mechanical/overuse (23.9%), and osteochondroses (10.3%) were leading etiologies.
Conclusions:
- MSP is a common pediatric primary care complaint, particularly in adolescents.
- The spectrum of etiologies is limited, with three main causes accounting for nearly 80% of cases.
- Age is a significant factor associated with MSP prevalence.
Aims:
(1) To determine the proportion of children evaluated for musculoskeletal pain in a paediatric primary care clinic over a three year period; (2) to describe the number of office visits due to musculoskeletal pain; (3) to categorise the more common presenting complaints; and (4) to characterise the aetiology of musculoskeletal pain in a paediatric primary care clinic.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review of all children > or =3 and <15 years of age evaluated in an urban paediatric primary care clinic in Madrid between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1999.
Results:
(1) A total of 317 children were evaluated for musculoskeletal pain throughout the study. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain increased as children grew older, from 2.4-5.7% at age 3 to 27.5-36% at age 14. Regression analysis showed that age (OR 1.20) and gender (OR 0.75) were associated with MSP. (2) Musculoskeletal pain was reported in 397 of 6500 office visits (6.1%; 95% CI 5.5 to 6.7%). (3) Arthralgias and soft tissue pain represented 65% of the presenting musculoskeletal complaints. (4) Trauma was the most common aetiology, responsible for 44% of all musculoskeletal pain related office visits. Mechanical/overuse pathology (23.9%) and osteochondroses (10.3%) represented the second and third leading aetiologies.
Conclusions:
Musculoskeletal pain is a common presenting complaint in primary care. The number of children presenting with musculoskeletal pain increases as they grow older, being particularly frequent among the adolescent population. The spectrum of aetiologies involved is limited, to the extent that three are responsible for almost 80% of cases.
