Asian Spine J.  2017 Aug;11(4):610-617. 10.4184/asj.2017.11.4.610.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in 1,355 Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Spine Surgery, Sir GangaRam Hospital, New Delhi, India. sudhir_axon@yahoo.co.in
  • 2Department of Community Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and various risk factors for low back pain (LBP) in young adults in India. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: LBP is an emerging problem in adolescents, with an incidence that is the highest in the third decade of life worldwide. Various risk factors such as obesity, smoking, family history, stress, and exercise have been described in the literature. This study was conducted because of paucity of data in the Indian literature.
METHODS
A total of 1,355 (741 males and 641 females) young Indian Administrative Service aspirants and medical postgraduate aspirants aged 18-35 years were enrolled in the study. The subjects completed a detailed, semi-structured questionnaire that gathered data regarding their sociodemographic profile and factors considered to be risk factors for LBP. Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, were measured and body mass index was calculated.
RESULTS
Most subjects (90.6%) were aged 20-29 years (mean, 24.49; range, 18-35 years). Results indicated that the following factors were associated with LBP in young adults: marital status, previous history of spine problems, strenuous exercise, job satisfaction, monotony, stress, daily number of studying hours, and family history of spine problems (p<0.05). However, age, sex, smoking, alcoholism, coffee intake, mode and duration of travel, diet, frequency of weightlifting, wearing heels, studying posture, and frequency and type of sports activities were not associated with LBP.
CONCLUSIONS
The study identified various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that precipitated LBP in young adult Indians. Identifying these risk factors at an early stage will prevent LBP progression to a chronic disease state, thereby improving an individual's quality of life and increasing productivity.

Keyword

Low back pain; Young adults; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Alcoholism
Body Mass Index
Chronic Disease
Coffee
Cross-Sectional Studies*
Diet
Efficiency
Heel
Humans
Incidence
India
Job Satisfaction
Low Back Pain*
Male
Marital Status
Obesity
Posture
Prevalence*
Quality of Life
Risk Factors*
Smoke
Smoking
Spine
Sports
Young Adult*
Coffee
Smoke
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