Role of environmental factors and history of low back pain in sciatica symptoms among Finnish adolescents.
METHODS
Cross-sectional study in a subcohort of the 1986 Northern Finland Birth Cohort (n = 1987).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of environmental factors and LBP history in sciatica symptoms among Finnish young adults.


BACKGROUND
History of low back pain (LBP), smoking, and male sex are associated with sciatica in adult populations. The role of the environmental determinants of sciatica has not been evaluated in populations consisting of only adolescents.


METHODS
Sciatic symptoms and environmental exposures were elicited by a mailed questionnaire and the associations were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression.


RESULTS
Female sex was associated with severe sciatica at 18 years (OR, 3.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-9.3). Both reported LBP at 16 years and LBP requiring consultation of a health care professional were associated with mild sciatica at 18 years (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.9; and OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.2-11.9). In addition, LBP at 16 years requiring consultation of a health care professional was associated with severe sciatica at 18 years (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.7-15.3). Smoking, obesity, physical workload, and level of physical activity were not associated with sciatica.


CONCLUSIONS
Females reported sciatic pain more often than males. LBP at 16 years predicted sciatica at 18 years.


METHODS
2.
Oulu Center for Cell-Matrix Research, Biocenter and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. ulla.karjalainen@oulu.fi
Ulla
U
Karjalainen
Markus
M
Paananen
Annaleena
A
Okuloff
Simo
S
Taimela
Juha
J
Auvinen
Minna
M
Männikkö
Jaro
J
Karppinen
D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D016526:Workload