Risk Factors Associated With Low Back Pain in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in 2023.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Low back pain (LBP) is a chronic health condition that reduces quality of life and imposes a burden on individuals, societies, and governments. It is a leading cause of physical disabilities and musculoskeletal disorders. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for LBP and associated physical disabilities.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 396 patients at the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP) between April and August 2023. This study collected data on sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle-related factors, along with the severity of LBP, which was rated using a Likert scale (0-10). The severity of pain was categorized into four groups based on disability levels: low disability with low intensity, low disability with high intensity, high disability with moderately limiting intensity, and high disability with severely limiting intensity. Descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize background characteristics, and χ 2 test used to examine the association between independent variables and LBP. Multinomial logistic regression used to identify significant risk factors for LBP. All analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 25.0 (IBM).

RESULTS

The results showed that factors such as using soft pillows, physical inactivity, using soft leather chairs, and having a job that involves prolonged standing increased the risk of LBP and related disability. Conversely, factors that decrease the risk include younger age, lower education level, being unmarried, being a student, not having diabetes, no history of discomfort while sitting or trauma, absence of leisure time activities (hanging with friends), no job-related stress, and wearing light or medium-weight shoes.

CONCLUSION

The study found a high prevalence of LBP among participants, and suggested the importance of implementing the necessary health precautions to address the risk factors that are associated with it.