title: A Subtle Threat to Urban Populations in Developing Countries: Low Back Pain and its Related Risk Factors.
abstract: METHODS
  A cross-sectional, population-based survey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, and biological and psychological correlates of low back pain (LBP) in large, populated urban areas.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  LBP is a common and costly medical problem all around the world. Currently, there are limited data available on prevalence as well as biological and psychological correlates of LBP in large urban populations in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, in a cross-sectional, population-based survey, we analyzed data obtained from 22,952 subjects living in Tehran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chronic, 1-year, and point prevalence of LBP among subjects were 12.2%, 42.1%, and 36.2%, respectively. LBP was more prevalent among older population, women, housewives, and obese people after adjustment for confounding factors using logistic regression models. In addition, persons with a general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) score ≥6 were about 2 times more likely to experience LBP in comparison with others. Both subjects with higher educational levels and those who were never married reported significantly less LBP. Furthermore, we could not find any significant correlation between smoking and physical activity level with LBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBP is prevalent among the general population of Tehran. Our findings can help health care providers regarding logical assignment of limited resources, in order to create multidimensional prevention plans according to potentially modifiable associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: *Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran†Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran‡Spine Division, Noorafshar Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Hospital, Tehran, Iran§Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran||Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran¶Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Pardis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noormohammadpour
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansournia
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadi-Lari
authors.forename: Ruhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nourian
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kordi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult