title: Prognosis and course of work-participation in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a 12-month follow-up cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical course of, and prognostic factors for, work-participation in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,608 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain received a multidisciplinary therapy and were evaluated at baseline and 2-, 5- and 12-month follow-ups. Recovery was defined as absolute recovery if the patient worked 90% of his contract hours at follow-up. Potential factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported a mean increase in work-participation from 38% at baseline to 82% after 12 months. Prognostic factors for ≥ 90% work-participation at 5 months were being married (odds ratio (OR) 1.72 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.12-2.65)), male (OR 1.99 (95% CI 1.24-3.20)), a higher score on disability (OR 1.00 (95% CI 0.997-1.02)) and physical component scale (Short-Form 36 (SF-36)) (OR 1.05 (95% CI 1.02-1.07)), previous rehabilitation (OR 1.85 (95% CI 1.14-2.98)), not receiving sickness benefits (OR 0.52 (95% CI 0.24-1.10)) and more work-participation (OR 4.86 (95% CI 2.35-10.04)). More work-participation (OR 5.22 (95% CI 3.47-7.85)) and male sex (OR 1.79 (95% CI 1.25-2.55)) were also prognostic factors at 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 12 months 52% of patients reported ≥ 90% work-participation. The strongest prognostic factor was more work-participation at baseline for the recovery of chronic non-specific low back pain.
authors: Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rochussenstraat 198, 3015 EK Rotterdam, The Netherlands. k.verkerk@hr.nl.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Verkerk
authors: Pim A J
authors: PA
authors: Luijsterburg
authors: Annelies
authors: A
authors: Pool-Goudzwaard
authors: Martijn W
authors: MW
authors: Heymans
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Ronchetti
authors: Harald S
authors: HS
authors: Miedema
authors: Bart W
authors: BW
authors: Koes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000639:trends*