Associations Between Chronic Diseases and Neck Pain Characteristics: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can adversely affect functional ability and quality of life. Although chronic diseases are thought to influence the burden of neck pain, evidence regarding their relationship with neck pain intensity and duration remains limited. Aim: To examine the association between chronic diseases and the intensity and duration of neck pain among adults. Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Setting: Adult population in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Participants aged 18-65 years completed a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, chronic disease status, and neck pain intensity and duration. Comparisons were conducted between participants with and without chronic disease in terms of pain intensity and duration. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between chronic disease and neck pain intensity and duration, after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Results: A total of 2036 participants (mean age 32.71 ± 11.28 years; 61.6% women) were included in the study. Overall, 323 participants (15.9%) reported at least one chronic disease. Participants with at least one chronic disease reported significantly greater neck pain intensity and longer pain duration than those without chronic disease (both p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, and BMI, the presence of at least one chronic disease was associated with greater neck pain intensity (B = 0.532, 95% CI 0.255-0.808; p < 0.001) and longer pain duration (B = 0.369, 95% CI 0.155-0.583; p = 0.001). Conclusions: The presence of chronic disease was independently associated with greater neck pain intensity and longer pain duration after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. These findings highlight the need for clinical assessments that take into consideration chronic disease status when assessing and managing individuals with neck pain.