J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2009 Nov;46(5):443-450. 10.3340/jkns.2009.46.5.443.

Estimated Number of Korean Adults with Back Pain and Population-Based Associated Factors of Back Pain: Data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Jhun HJ
• Park JY

• KMID: 2190074
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2009.46.5.443

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We estimated the number of Korean adults with back pain and evaluated population-based associated factors of back pain from a representative sample data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
METHODS
The number of Korean adults who experienced back pain (experienced patients), those who experienced back pain lasting for three or more months during the past year (chronic patients), and those who were currently suffering from back pain (current patients) were estimated by analyzing the data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2007 using surveyfreq procedure of the SAS statistical package. Population-based odds ratios for being experienced, chronic, and current patient according to demographic (age and gender), socioeconomic (education and occupation), and lifestyle factors (smoking, drinking, and exercise) were estimated using surveylogistic procedure.
RESULTS
It was estimated that there were 5,554,256 (proportion, 15.4%; 95% CI, 4,809,466 - 6,299,046) experienced patients, 2,060,829 (5.7%; 1,557,413-2,564,246) chronic patients, and 3,084,188 (8.5%; 2,600,197 - 3,568,179) current patients among 36,107,225 Korean adults aged 20-89 years in 2007. Each of explanatory variables was significantly associated with at least one of the response variables for back pain.
CONCLUSION
Based on our study results, further efforts to investigate epidemiology of back pain, to evaluate associated factors, and to improve treatment outcomes are needed.

Keyword

Back pain; Epidemiology; Population

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Back Pain
Drinking
Humans
Korea
Life Style
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Phenothiazines
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires
Phenothiazines