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prospective analysis of back pain and rates of
disability may help explain the association between back pain and mortality.
Back pain is common and often
debilitating.
Back pain is very
common, affecting millions of people worldwide.
It is also a major cause of
disability and missed work days.
Risk factors such as posture,
sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, obesity, and age can all contribute to the
development of this condition.
The National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke suggest that around 80 percent of adults experience back pain at least once
in their life.
A United
States telephone survey showed that the prevalence of chronic
back pain more than doubled in the 14-year interval between 1992 and 2006, and
that it was greater in women.
Back pain can be acute or chronic.
Acute back pain can last for a few days to a couple of weeks, and it usually
resolves on its own. Approximately 20 percent of people with acute low back pain develop
chronic low back pain.
Chronic back pain lasts for 3 months
or longer. Chronic back pain may be due to underlying conditions such as osteoporosis and cancer.
Measuring
the effects of back pain
Researchers from Boston Medical
Center in Massachusetts were interested in knowing more about the effects of
back pain in women, given the higher prevalence of this condition among women
aged 40–80 years, compared with men.
The study, published in The
Journal of General Internal Medicine, followed 8,000 older women for an
average of 14 years.
"To our knowledge, our study is
the first to measure disability after measurement of back pain. This allowed
for a prospective analysis of back pain that persisted over time and later
rates of disability, which may help explain the association between back pain
and mortality," says lead study author Eric Roseen.
The scientists took baseline
measurements of back pain and followed up 2 years later. They asked the
participants about or observed everyday activities, and many of them had
difficulties performing tasks such as walking, meal preparation, and repetitive
movements.
Activities such as walking short
distances and meal preparation explained almost 50 percent of the impact of
chronic back pain on mortality. Observed walking speed and repetitive standing
up from a chair explained about one-quarter of this association (27 percent and
24 percent, respectively).
Over 50
percent of participants died during the follow-up period. Around 65 percent of
women with frequent persistent back pain died during this time, compared with
54 percent of those without back pain.
Higher
mortality risk
The results of the new study show
that there may be a strong link between back pain and mortality. Though the
reasons behind this association remain unclear, researchers believe that other
factors connected to back pain may contribute to an earlier death.
"Back
pain may directly impair daily activities, but older adults could
inappropriately avoid them due to fear of re-injury or worsening of symptoms.
Being unable to perform, or avoiding, daily activities could lead to weight
gain, development or progression of other chronic health conditions, and
ultimately earlier death," says Roseen.
The older population is increasing worldwide. Around 8 percent of people are aged
65 and over, and estimates suggest that this number will grow to nearly 17
percent by 2050.
In light of these statistics,
optimizing physical health to extend life for older adults is becoming a
priority for public health institutions and research.
"Our findings raise the
question of whether better management of back pain across the lifespan could
prevent disability, improve quality of life, and ultimately extend life,"
concludes Roseen.
More research is needed to assess
the long-term effects of back pain, but these findings pave the way for future
studies that aim to find better treatments, guidelines, and strategies to
address this condition.
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