Incidence and recurrence of disabling low back pain and neck-shoulder pain.
METHODS
A prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up.


OBJECTIVE
To assess incidence and recurrence of disabling low back (LBP) and neck-shoulder pain (NSP) in an industrial population, and to investigate the association with sex and job title during follow-up.


BACKGROUND
Epidemiologic data of LBP and NSP are sparse from developing countries.


METHODS
All employees (18,031) in an Iranian industry were invited to participate in a baseline survey and followed for 1 year regarding new episodes of sickness absence due to LBP or NSP (disabling pain).


RESULTS
The 1-year incidence of disabling LBP was 2.1% and of NSP 0.1%. Although the prevalence of LBP in females was higher than in males, the incidence disabling LBP were higher in males. Both prevalence and incidence of disabling LBP were high in unskilled workers. For NSP, managers had the highest reported prevalence, but incident cases happened only among office workers and unskilled workers.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence, especially for NSP, is much lower than from developed countries. To study prevalence, incidence and recurrence of LBP and NSP simultaneously leads to a better understanding of the natural pattern and distribution of LBP and NSP in a working population.
Ghaffari
Mostafa
M
Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. mostafa.ghaffari@cns.ki.se
Alipour
Akbar
A
Farshad
Ali Asghar
AA
Yensen
Irene
I
Vingard
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007221:Industry; D007492:Iran; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012737:Sex Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control