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Prevalence of neck and low back pain in community-dwelling adults in Spain: an updated population-based national study (2009/10–2011/12)

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Abstract

Purpose

To estimate time trends in the prevalence of neck (NP) and low back pain (LBP) from 2009 to 2012; and to determine the socio-demographic features, self-rated health status, co-morbidity, lifestyle-related habits, and health care service associated with NP and LBP in Spanish adults.

Outcome measures

The European Health Interview Survey for Spain (2009) and the Spanish National Health Survey (2011).

Methods

A total of 43,072 subjects were included. We analyzed data collected from the European Health Interview Survey for Spain conducted in 2009 (n = 22,188), and the Spanish National Health Survey in 2011 (n = 20,884). We considered the presence of isolated NP, LBP and both (NP&LBP). We analyzed socio-demographic features; self-perceived health status; lifestyle habits; comorbid diseases, and professional treatment using logistic regression models.

Results

The prevalence of isolated NP, LBP and NP&LBP increased from 2008/9 to 2011/12 (7.86 vs. 8.56 %; 5.18 vs.5.44 %; 10.61 vs.11.12 %, respectively). Being female, increased the probability of isolated NP and NP&LBP, but decreased the probability of LBP. The prevalence of all pain localizations increased with older age, lower education level, poor self-rated health, smoker, comorbidities, psychological distress (anxiety or depression), hospital and physiotherapist visits and consumed drugs for pain, in 2008/9 as compared to 2011/12. Moreover, LBP, and NP&LBP were associated with obesity, whereas NP&LBP was associated with being married.

Conclusions

The prevalence of LBP, NP and NP&LBP had increased in the last 3 years in Spain.

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Conflict of interest

Funding and grants: The author(s) declare that they have non-financial competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Departamental II, Despacho 1056. Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida de Atenas, s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

    Domingo Palacios-Ceña, Cristina Alonso-Blanco & César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

  2. Preventive Medicine and Public Health Teaching and Research Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Valentín Hernández-Barrera, Pilar Carrasco-Garrido & Rodrigo Jiménez-García

Authors
  1. Domingo Palacios-Ceña
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  2. Cristina Alonso-Blanco
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  3. Valentín Hernández-Barrera
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  4. Pilar Carrasco-Garrido
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  5. Rodrigo Jiménez-García
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  6. César Fernández-de-las-Peñas
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Correspondence to Domingo Palacios-Ceña.

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Palacios-Ceña, D., Alonso-Blanco, C., Hernández-Barrera, V. et al. Prevalence of neck and low back pain in community-dwelling adults in Spain: an updated population-based national study (2009/10–2011/12). Eur Spine J 24, 482–492 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3567-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3567-5

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