Low back pain among the working-age population: from the global burden of disease study 2021

The burden of low back pain in the global working-age population (WAP) is substantial and exhibits unique characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate global, regional, and national trends in low back pain prevalence among the WAP over a 32-year period.

We utilized data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study to evaluate the global impact of low back pain in the WAP from 1990 to 2021. A secondary analysis focused on temporal trends and a decomposition analysis of low back pain.

From 1990 to 2021, there was a continuous decrease in the rate of low back pain among the global WAP. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) decreased from 4,111 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 2,682-5,619) to 3,676 (95% UI: 2,563-5,021), with an annual average percentage change (AAPC) of -0.36. The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) decreased from 9,731 (95% UI: 7,061-12,970) to 8,632 (95% UI: 6,296-11,517), with an AAPC of -0.39. The age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate (ASDR) decreased from 1,108 (95% UI: 686-1,650) to 982 (95% UI: 608-1,460), with an AAPC of -0.39. However, the number of low back pain cases in the global WAP continued to increase. Regions with a middle Socio-demographic Index (SDI), South Asia, China, and India carried a heavier burden of low back pain in the WAP. The burden was also greater among females, with the gender gap continuing to widen. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth and population aging were the predominant driving factors.

Despite the overall reduction in the ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR of low back pain among WAP, it remained a leading cause of disability worldwide. More attention needs to be paid to the low back pain burden among WAP in middle-SDI regions, countries with a large population base, and females. Significant gender and regional disparities persist within WAP, highlighting the necessity for targeted preventive and therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden of low back pain and reduce the risks of disability.