[Gender-specific risk factors for acute low back pain: starting points for target-group-specific prevention].
BACKGROUND
Women complain about back pain more often than men, giving rise to the question of whether gender-specific risk profiles could be identified.


METHODS
Secondary data analysis was done of the telephone health survey conducted by the Robert Koch Institute in 2003 (n=7,829). Bivariate (chi(2)) and gender-stratified multivariate tests were conducted (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals).


RESULTS
Women (28.5%) complained about acute low back pain significantly more often than men did (18%; p<0.001). The multivariate analysis found gender-specific risk estimates for the following factors: age, degenerative diseases of the joints, osteoporosis, depression, smoking, employment, municipality size, and impairment of daily work because of physical impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The present examination is an attempt to deduce factors to be taken into account for gender-specific care of patients with acute low back pain. Preventive measures and therapy approaches could be influenced by these findings. To adequately address the problem, future analyses should specifically include psychosocial factors.
Ochsmann
E
E
Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, RWTH Universität Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland. eochsmann@ukaachen.de
Rüger
H
H
Kraus
T
T
Drexler
H
H
Letzel
S
S
Münster
E
E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult