The six-month incidence of clinically significant low back pain in the Saskatchewan adult population.
METHODS
A population-based, longitudinal, mailed survey was conducted.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the 6-month incidence and determinants of clinically significant low back pain in the Saskatchewan adult population.


BACKGROUND
Few studies have investigated the incidence of significant low back pain in general populations. When available, such studies often differ in the assessment of pain severity. This lack of consensus in measuring pain severity results in large differences in incidence rates.


METHODS
A questionnaire requesting information on low back pain and other health conditions was mailed to randomly chosen individuals, ages 20 to 69, residing in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Of the 1131 (55%) who responded at baseline, 848 had not experienced clinically significant low back pain during the past 6 months. Clinically significant low back pain was assessed using the Chronic Pain Questionnaire, a 7-item scale that measures the intensity of chronic pain and associated disability. Individuals with no clinically significant low back pain were followed up at 6 months.


RESULTS
At the follow-up assessment, 50 individuals reported clinically significant low back pain, representing a cumulative incidence of 8% (95% confidence interval, 6-10.4). In logistic regression models, marital status, rural residency, and history of back and neck pain were associated with the onset of clinically significant low back pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The 6-month incidence of clinically significant low back pain is high in Saskatchewan. It is important to prevent this condition because of the high economic and social costs associated with it.
Unité de recherche en santé des populations, Centre de recherche du CHA de Québec, and the Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada. cgeorge@gre.ulaval.ca
Clemon
C
George
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires