Abstract: Predictors for chronic neck and low back pain in office workers: a 1-year prospective cohort

Neck and low back pain are significant health problems in office workers. One-year prevalence estimates of neck pain in office workers range from 42−69%, while those for 1-year incidence range from 27−49%. Previous studies reported that between 34−51% of office workers experienced low back pain in the preceding 12 months 3) and that 20−23% of office workers reported new onset of low back pain during 1-year follow-up . Neck and low back pain occur episodically over a lifetime with variable recovery between episodes. In a working population, between 60−80% of workers with neck pain reported neck pain 1 year later, whereas between 24−61% of patients with recent onset of low back pain developed chronicity . Neck and low back pain often leads to activity limitations, sickness absence, or long-term work disability. Thus, there is a significant socioeconomic burden on patients and society . Studies have identified several biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic neck and low back pain . Carroll et al. (2009) indicated in their review that older age, poor health, prior pain episodes, poor psychological health, and worrying, becoming angry, or becoming frustrated in response to neck pain were associated with poorer prognosis of outcomes in the general population with neck pain. Henschke et al. (2008) found in their prospective cohort study that older age, compensation cases, higher pain intensity, longer duration of low back pain before consultation, more days of reduced activity because of low back Abstract: Predictors for chronic neck and low back pain in office workers: a 1-year prospective cohort study: Rattaporn SIHAWONG, et al. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand—Objective: All occupations expose workers to varied and unique conditions. The nature of work has been recognized as influencing the health of workers. Whether predictors for chronic neck and low back pain would be occupation-specific is unknown. This study aimed to identify predictors for chronic neck and low back pain in a cohort of office workers. Methods: A prospective study was carried out among 669 healthy office workers. At baseline, risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire and standardized physical examination. A symptomatic case was defined as an individual who reported pain greater than 30 mm on a 100-mm VAS, and chronic pain was defined as experiencing ongoing neck or low back pain for greater than 3 months over the past 6 months. Two regression models were built to analyze the risk factors for developing chronic neck and low back pain. Results: Of the sample, 17 and 27% of office workers who reported a new onset of neck or low back pain developed chronicity, respectively. Predictors for chronic neck pain were high body mass index, frequent neck extension during the work day, high initial pain intensity, and high psychological job demands. The development of chronic low back pain was associated with history of low back pain and high initial pain intensity. Conclusions: The findings suggest that predictors for chronic musculoskeletal Predictors for chronic neck and low back pain in office workers: a 1-year prospective cohort study