Prevalence of Lower Back Pain (LBP) and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Alfaisal University Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background

Lower back pain (LBP) is defined as any recurring lumbar pain between the rib cage and the buttocks present at the time of the study. This study investigated the point prevalence, associated risk factors, and degree of disability of LBP among medical students at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study evaluated 331 medical students using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; used to gauge LBP degree of disability) supplemented with demographic and lifestyle questions. The respondents were mostly first-year, female, and between the ages of 17 and 21 years.

Results

Analysis uncovered that Female students, extended durations of phone usage, and those who did not exercise were more likely to experience LBP (p < 0.001; p = 0.042; p = 0.001). A higher degree of disability was associated with participants older than 21 years, who used their devices for extended periods, and who slept less (β = 0.170, p = 0.006). While most students experienced LBP (73.4%), the ODI revealed that the majority were not deemed disabled (56.9%). Factors associated with LBP prevalence were not necessarily associated with a higher degree of disability per the ODI.

Conclusions

LBP is highly prevalent among medical students, with several associated risk factors. Female medical students remain a significant at-risk group. These findings highlight the need for a broader intervention against LBP, such as ergonomic and lifestyle improvements that consider a multitude of factors.