Associations among low back pain, income, and body mass index in Taiwan

作者：Hu Hsiao Yun; Chen Likwang; Wu Chen Yi; Chou Yiing Jenq; Chen Ran Chou; Huang Nicole^*

来源：Spine Journal, 2013, 13(11): 1521-1526.

DOI：10.1016/j.spinee.2013.06.049

• Overweight
• Obesity
• Low back pain
• Economic disparity
• Taiwan

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is a lack of literature on the association of obesity with low back pain (LBP) in oriental countries. Furthermore, no research has explored whether higher socioeconomic status cushions obesity-related risk of LBP. %26lt;br%26gt;PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the association between obesity and LBP and to investigate the effects of socioeconomic status on this association. %26lt;br%26gt;STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from Taiwan%26apos;s 2001 National Health Interview Survey and 2002 to 2004 National Health Insurance claim records. %26lt;br%26gt;PATIENT SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 12,862 adults who were aged 18 or older in 2001. %26lt;br%26gt;OUTCOME MEASURES: Persons with at least one outpatient or inpatient claim record including 724 as a diagnosis code were defined as LBP patients. %26lt;br%26gt;RESULTS: The estimated risk levels of being overweight (23.0 %26lt;= body mass index [BMI]%26lt;25.0) and of being in Class I of obesity (25.0 %26lt;= BMI%26lt;30.0) were the same (hazard ratio [HR]=1.31), and no statistically significant difference in risk level was detected among persons with different economic levels. Among people in Class II of obesity (BMI %26gt;= 30.0), the LBP risk levels were different for persons with an economic level in the bottom quintile (defined as the poor) and their better-off counterparts (HR=1.77 vs. 1.24, p%26lt;.05). %26lt;br%26gt;CONCLUSIONS: Obesity-related risk of LBP is substantially higher for poor people than for those with higher socioeconomic status. Weight reduction should be promoted as a way to reduce LBP. Because income may serve as a proxy for other variables, the mechanisms underlying the empirical observed associations need to be further explored.

• 出版日期2013-11