Evaluation of Risk Factors in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is one of the most common causes of inactivity and chronic disability. Many risk factors have been identified as contributing to the development of chronic non specific low back pain. Several risk factors have been postulated including age, sex, posture (bending or twisting, prolonged standing), manual handling, tobacco smoking, occupation and socioeconomic factors. To determine the association between low back pain and posture, exercise, family history, level of education, level of income, smoking and others. This case control study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh one of the largest government referral hospital with well-established Physical medicine department along with other departments from 1st February 2015 to 31st July 201. Sixty four (64) cases (patients with low back pain) and 64 controls (patients without low back pain) were enlisted to perform this case control study. The sample size was 128. With a pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire Data was depicted, investigating about demographic data and related risk factors. To calculate BMI (Body mass index), heights and weights was tailored accordingly. Age range was 30 to 60 years. The point prevalence of low backache was 63.0%. Mean age ±SD (Standard deviation) for cases was 45.48±8.5 years. Mean age ±SD for controls was mean age of controls were 47.81 years with standard deviation of 7.68 years. Back pain was significantly associated with the risk factor 'bending and twisting movements of the body' (Odds Ratio= 4.6 with 95% Confidence Intervals= 1.47 to 2.89, p= 0.043), sleeping hours <6 hours (Odds ratio=5.212 with Confidence intervals=1.212-2.966). Participants having ≤5 years of education were more common in cases (14.1%) than controls (7.8%). Illiterate participants were higher in controls (28.1%) than in cases (17.2%) and the difference was found statistically significant (p<0.05). Mean BMI was 23.05±2.68 for cases and 21.95±2.87 for controls. Overweight persons suffered more from low back pain (38.3%) than that of controls (23.4%). Persons with normal weight were higher (61.7%) in controls than in cases (48.4%). Underweight were almost equal. The differences were found statistically significant when chi-square test was performed (p<0.05). Low back pain had a high prevalence in Bangladesh. Bending and twisting movements of spine, level of education, body mass index had significant risk factors of low back pain.