low back pain risk factors in patients referred tokermanshah hospitals(2001)

introduction: although low back pain (lbp) is a universal problem, local factors in different societies can affect it. this study was conducted to investigate risk factors of lbp among patients referred to kermanshah hospitals. materials and methods : a validated questionnaire was used for collecting patients’ characteristics and anthropomeric data to identify risk factors. 604 people who referred to clinics with lbp were selected  to take part and the same number complaining of other medical illness excluling lbp were matched as control group. results: 53.7% of lbp and 52.7% of the control group were male. mean age(y), height (cm), weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m 2 ) in lbp and control groups were 42.6±14.63 & 42.57±14.54 , 166.34±9.14  & 166.18±9.28 , 68.54±21.71 &  67.96±12.34 , 25.1 ± 0.44  &  25.2 ± 0.46 respectively. most of the subjects in the both groups were housekeepers and illiterate. in lbp and control groups 91.3% & 91.5% bent over more than  five times a day, 77.9% & 75.8% had more than one hour sedentary standing, 69.8% & 71.0% had been carrying heavy objects (more than 12 kg), 39.1% and 41.3% had been sitting more than 2 hours continuoslly, 13.4% & 14.4% had been driving more than one  hour a day, 21.3%, 19.7% were smokers, 15.4% &15.7% had a history of sport activities. conclusion: unlike some similar studies, in this study no significant association was found between these risk factors and lbp incidence. further longitudinal studies are necessary to establish these risk factors.