title: Prevalence of neck and low back pain in community-dwelling adults in Spain: a population-based national study.
abstract: METHODS
  Cross-sectional epidemiological study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the 1-year prevalence of neck pain and low back pain in the Spanish population and their association with sociodemographic and lifestyle habits, self-reported health status and comorbidity with other chronic disorders.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No recent population-based epidemiological studies have estimated the prevalence of neck and low back pain in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data obtained from adults aged 16 years or older (n = 29,478) who participated in the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey, an ongoing, home-based personal interview which examines a nation-wide representative sample of civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in main family dwellings (household) of Spain. We analyzed prevalence data of neck and low back pain and their relationship with socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, marital status, educational level, occupational status, or monetary income), self-perceived health status, lifestyle habits (smoking habit, alcohol consumption, sleep habit, physical exercise, or obesity), and the presence of concomitant chronic diseases or symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 1-year prevalence was 19.5% (95% CI: 18.9-20.1) for neck pain and 19.9% (95% CI: 19.3-20.5) for low back pain. Both neck pain and low back pain were higher among female (26.4% and 24.5%) than male (12.3% and 15.1%). Subjects in the 31 to 50 years group were 1.5 times (95% CI: 1.3-1.8) more likely to report low back pain than participants in the 16 to 30 years group. Individuals reporting neck or low back pain showed worse self-reported health status (OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 4.5-5.3 for neck pain; OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 4.3-5.1 for low back pain) and were more likely to complain of depression (OR: 4.3, 95% CI: 3.9-4.7 or OR: 3.6, 95% CI: 3.3-3.9, respectively). Further, a strong association between neck and low back pain was found (OR: 15.6, 95% CI: 14.2-17.1). Finally, neck pain and low back pain were also associated with several other chronic conditions, particularly arthrosis (OR: 6.5, 95% CI: 6.0-7.0), and headaches (OR: 4.3, 95% CI: 3.9-4.8) for neck pain, and both arthrosis (OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 5.3-6.2), and osteoporosis (OR: 6.3, 95% CI: 5.6-7.2), for low back pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This Spanish population-based survey showed that neck and low back pain are prevalent and highly associated between them, more frequent in female (particularly neck pain) and associated to worse self-reported health status. Individuals with neck and low back pain were more likely than those without pain to have depression and other painful conditions, including headache and osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. cesar.fernandez@urjc.es
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-las-Peñas
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Barrera
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso-Blanco
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palacios-Ceña
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Garrido
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult