Calling for more public health resources for women: findings from the burden of low back pain in China.

BACKGROUND

To reveal the burden and progression of low back pain in China from perspectives such as gender and age using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 (GBD 2019).

METHODS

The data we used are all from the Global Burden of Disease dataset. We calculated Annual Percentage Change (APC) and Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) from 1990 to 2019 by Joinpoint regression analysis. Meanwhile, the independent effects of age, period and cohort were estimated using Age-Period-Cohort analysis. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to predict the trend of LBP prevalence in the next decade.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and incidence rates (ASIR) of low back pain in China declined significantly, yet the total prevalence and incidence continued to rise, with higher rates in women. And we predict it will continue to rise in the next decade. Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) were consistently higher in women, while age-standardized YLDs and DALYs rates decreased, though total YLDs and DALYs continued to rise.

CONCLUSION

Low back pain is a substantial public health burden in China. Notably, women face a higher risk and warrant special attention.