title: [Risk factors for low back pain among 1.389 pupils in the 8th and 9th grade. An epidemiologic study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and severity of low back pain (LBP) in 13-16-year-old pupils in relation to selected factors, such as anthropometry, physical activity, smoking, hypermobility, and tightness of hamstring muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey and all the pupils were examined by the school doctor for height, weight, mobility of joints, and general health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lifetime prevalence of non-specific LBP was 58.9% and the one-year prevalence was 50.8% with no differences between the sexes. Recurrent/continuous LBP in a moderate to severe degree was recorded in 19.4% of the school children (182 F, 88 M). This was positively correlated to a female gender, a BMI of more than 25 kg/square meter, competitive sports for boys, poor physical fitness, daily smoking, heavy jobs in leisure time, increased use of the health system, and reduced life quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicates that a female gender, daily smoking, and heavy jobs are important associated factors for severe LBP in adolescents, with an observed probability of 46% if all factors are present. We do not know yet whether these factors have any causal importance for the development of severe LBP.
authors.affiliation: Reumatologisk afdeling, Centralsygehuset i Naestved. mharreby@yahoo.dk
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Harreby
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nygaard
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Storr-Paulsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fisker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laegaard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Risikofaktorer for laendesmerter hos 1.389 skoleelever i 8.- og 9.-klasse. Et epidemiologisk studie.