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Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in urban communities in multi-ethnic Suriname: a cross-sectional study with the COPCORD methodology (stage 1, phase 1 and 2)

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A Correction to this article was published on 22 February 2020

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Abstract

Introduction/objectives

Musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) are a major burden worldwide. In Suriname, a South American developing country, the epidemiology of MSCs and its related disorders is still unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey was carried out to determine prevalence and risk factors of MSCs in urban areas of Suriname.

Methods

This is the first Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases survey in a Caribbean Community. Trained interviewers collecting self-reported data conducted this house-to-house community-based survey. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 and Stata version 14.1.

Results

The prevalence of MSCs was 62.1% with a higher prevalence rate among women compared with men (resp. 64.3% vs. 58.6%) (Odds ratio = 1.185; p ≤ 0.05). The most decisive self-reported variables associated with MSCs were older age (defined as ≥ 45 years) and moderate to heavy physical workload. The prevalence of MSCs was also associated with women, low educational level, smoking, alcohol use, high-intensity physical activity level, and body mass index (≥ 25 kg/m2). The highest prevalence of MSCs was found among African descendants (Maroons (68.8%) and Creoles (68.0%)), followed by the Indigenous (65.0%) and Asian descendants (Hindustani (64.3%) and Javanese (49.5%)). Most persons with MSCs (75.7%) reported multisite complaints with lower back, knee, and shoulder being the most frequently reported sites. In our study population, MSCs were not considered disabling (mean Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index score of 0.23).

Conclusions

The prevalence of MSCs in this urban multi-ethnic Surinamese community is high; therefore, future research is needed to further explore the burden of MSCs in Suriname.

Key Points

• Musculoskeletal complaints are highly prevalent in different ethnic groups in an urban Surinamese community; almost two-thirds of the population reported MSCs with the highest prevalence rate among women and African descendants.

• The most decisive self-reported variables associated with MSCs were older age (defined as ≥ 45 years) and moderate to heavy physical workload. Gender, educational level, smoking, alcohol use, high-intensity physical activity, and body mass index were also significantly associated with musculoskeletal complaints.

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Change history

  • 22 February 2020

    The footnote of Fig. 2 in the published original version of the above article went missing and the correct figure is presented in this article.]

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the funders, participants and research team of the COPCORD Suriname study for their cooperation.

Funding

This work was funded by a grant from the International League of Associations for Rheumatology project 2015. We also received additional support from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname-VLIR-UOS project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname

    N. Ho-A-Tham & R. Basantram

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Musculoskeletal rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    N. Ho-A-Tham & W. Dankaerts

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group of Adapted Physical Activity and Psychomotor Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Y. Vanlandewijck

  4. Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    L. de Donder

  5. Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    R. Wittoek

  6. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname

    B. Ting-A-Kee

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  1. N. Ho-A-Tham
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Correspondence to N. Ho-A-Tham.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Ministry of Health in Suriname (Approval number VG016-14).

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The original version of this article was revised: The footnote of Figure 2 in the published original version of the above article was missing. This is now presented correctly.

Part of the data from this article has previously been published as an abstract. (Prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal complaints in a multi-ethnic Surinamese population: Preliminary results of the COPCORD Suriname study

Abstract Code: ABS429; Oral Presentation at 19th Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress – APLAR 2017, October 16–20, 2017, Dubai, U.A.E.)

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Ho-A-Tham, N., Vanlandewijck, Y., de Donder, L. et al. Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in urban communities in multi-ethnic Suriname: a cross-sectional study with the COPCORD methodology (stage 1, phase 1 and 2). Clin Rheumatol 39, 1065–1075 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-019-04842-5

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