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Prevalence and social burden of active chronic low back pain in the adult Portuguese population: results from a national survey

  • Original Article - Epidemiology of RMD
  • Published:
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Abstract

To determine the prevalence of active chronic low back pain (CLBP) in the adult Portuguese population; to compare the active CLBP population with the population without CLBP; and to explore factors associated with active CLBP. The present study was conducted under the scope of EpiReumaPt a population-based study. Active CLBP was self-reported and considered if present on the day of the interview and for ≥90 days. Prevalence estimates were calculated. Association of active CLBP with quality of life, functional ability and healthcare consumption were evaluated. Factors associated with active CLBP were identified through logistic regression. Among 10.661 EpiReumaPt subjects, 1487 self-reported active CLBP. The prevalence of active CLBP was 10.4 % (95 % CI 9.6; 11.9 %). After adjustment, active CLBP subjects had a higher likelihood for anxiety symptoms (OR 2.77), early retirement due to disease (OR 1.88) and more physician visits (β = 2.65). Factors significantly and independently associated with the presence of active CLBP were: female gender (OR 1.34), overweight/obesity (OR 1.27), presence of self-reported rheumatic musculoskeletal disease (RMD) (OR 2.93), anxiety symptoms (OR 2.67), age (OR 1.02) and higher number of self-reported comorbidities (OR 1.12). Active CLBP is highly prevalent in the Portuguese population and is associated with disability and with a high consumption of healthcare resources. Female gender, older age, anxiety symptoms, overweight/obesity, the presence of other RMD and the number of comorbidities were independently associated with the presence of active CLBP. These factors should be taken into account when new cohort prospective studies will be developed.

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Acknowledgments

The EpiReumaPt Study Group would like to acknowledge the invaluable help of external consultants: João Eurico da Fonseca, MD PhD, Loreto Carmona, MD PhD, Henrique de Barros, MD PhD, José António Pereira da Silva, MD PhD. DGS: Francisco George, MD. Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Porto, Biobanco-IMM, Regional Government of Azores, Regional Government of Madeira, Regional Health Administrations of Norte, Centro, Alentejo, Algarve, and Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, Hospital de S. João, Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, Associação Nacional de Freguesias, Patient Associations with RMDs. Unrestricted Grants The present study did not have a specific Grant. However, it was conducted under the scope of EpiReumaPt. EpiReumaPt was endorsed by the Alto Patrocínio da Presidência da República and was supported by a Grant from Directorate-General of Health. The project was also sponsored by: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Fundação Champalimaud, Fundação AstraZeneca, Abbvie, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Roche, Servier, Bial, D3A Medical Systems, Happybrands, Centro de Medicina Laboratorial Germano de Sousa, Clínica Médica da Praia da Vitória, CAL-Clínica, Galp Energia, Açoreana Seguros and individual support of Rheumatologists. This specific study did not receive any financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EpiReumaPt Research Team – Portuguese Society of Rheumatology, Lisbon, Portugal

    Nélia Gouveia, Ana Rodrigues, Sofia Ramiro, Pedro Machado, Helena Canhão & Jaime C. Branco

  2. CEDOC - Chronic Diseases of Nova Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NMS/UNL), Campo Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056, Lisbon, Portugal

    Nélia Gouveia, Sofia Ramiro & Jaime C. Branco

  3. EpiDoc Unit – Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Unit (CEDOC, NMS/UNL), Lisbon, Portugal

    Nélia Gouveia, Ana Rodrigues, Helena Canhão & Jaime C. Branco

  4. Rheumatology Research Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal

    Ana Rodrigues & Helena Canhão

  5. Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Ana Rodrigues & Helena Canhão

  6. Portuguese Society of Rheumatology, Lisbon, Portugal

    Mónica Eusébio

  7. Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Sofia Ramiro

  8. Clínica Universitária de Reumatologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro Machado

  9. Centre for Rheumatology Research & MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, University College London, London, UK

    Pedro Machado

  10. Rheumatology Unit of Hospital de Santa Maria – Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte (CHLN-E.P.E), Lisbon, Portugal

    Helena Canhão

  11. Rheumatology Unit of Hospital Egas Moniz - Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO- E.P.E.), Lisbon, Portugal

    Jaime C. Branco

  12. Programa Nacional Contra as Doenças Reumáticas (2004–2014), Direcção Geral da Saúde, Lisbon, Portugal

    Jaime C. Branco

Authors
  1. Nélia Gouveia
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  2. Ana Rodrigues
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  3. Mónica Eusébio
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  4. Sofia Ramiro
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  5. Pedro Machado
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  6. Helena Canhão
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  7. Jaime C. Branco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nélia Gouveia.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

On behalf of the EpiReumaPt study group. See study members referred in Appendix section.

EpiReumaPt study group

EpiReumaPt study group

Sociedade Portuguesa Reumatologia Alexandra Bernardo, Alexandre Sepriano, Ana Filipa Mourão, Ana Maria Rodrigues, Ana Raposo, Ana Sofia Roxo, Anabela Barcelos, António Vilar, Armando Malcata, Augusto Faustino, Cândida Silva, Carlos Vaz, Carmo Afonso, Carolina Furtado, Catarina Ambrósio, Cátia Duarte, Célia Ribeiro, Cláudia Miguel, Cláudia Vaz, Cristina Catita, Cristina Ponte, Daniela Peixoto, Diana Gonçalves, Domingos Araújo, Elsa Sousa, Eva Mariz, Fátima Godinho, Fernando Pimentel, Filipa Ramos, Filipa Teixeira, Filipe Araújo, Filipe Barcelos, Georgina Terroso, Graça Sequeira, Guilherme Figueiredo, Helena Canhão, Herberto Jesus, Inês Cunha, Inês Gonçalves, Inês Silva, J. A. Pereira da Silva, Jaime Branco, Joana Abelha, Joana Ferreira, João Dias, João Eurico Fonseca, João Ramos, João Rovisco, Joaquim Pereira, Jorge Silva, José Carlos Romeu, José Costa, José Melo Gomes, José Pimentão, Lúcia Costa, Luís Inês, Luís Maurício, Luís Miranda, Margarida Coutinho, Margarida Cruz, Margarida Oliveira, Maria João Gonçalves, Maria João Salvador, Maria José Santos, Mariana Santiago, Mário Rodrigues, Maura Couto, Miguel Bernardes, Miguel Sousa, Mónica Bogas, Patrícia Pinto, Paula Araújo, Paula Valente, Paulo Coelho, Paulo Monteiro, Pedro Madureira, Raquel Roque, Renata Aguiar, Ricardo O. Figueira, Rita Barros, Rita Fonseca, Romana Vieira, Rui André, Rui Leitão, Sandra Falcão, Sara Serra, Sílvia Fernandes, Sofia Pimenta, Sofia Ramiro, Susana Capela, Taciana Videira, Teresa Laura Pinto, Teresa Nóvoa, Viviana Tavares.

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Gouveia, N., Rodrigues, A., Eusébio, M. et al. Prevalence and social burden of active chronic low back pain in the adult Portuguese population: results from a national survey. Rheumatol Int 36, 183–197 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-015-3398-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-015-3398-7

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