0097 Risk factors for occupational low back pain (lbp), medicine use, and seeking care for lbp: results from a prospective cohort study. (21st August 2017) - Garg, Arun
Abstract : Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between job physical demands and risk of low-back pain (LBP), using medication to treat LBP (M-LBP) and seeking care for LBP (SC-LBP). Methods: Worker demographics, LBP history, psychosocial factors, hobbies, job physical demands (using the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation) were assessed at the time of enrollment (551 workers). There were 258 incident-eligible workers (a continuous pain-free period of at least 90 days at the time of enrollment) and were followed monthly for up to 4.5 years to determine new LBP, M-LBP, and SC-LBP cases. Changes in job physical demands were measured. Associations between risk factors and LBP outcomes were modelled using proportional hazards regression with time varying covariates. Results: LBP and M-LBP were fairly common affecting 47.7% and 37% workers, respectively. SC-LBP much less common affecting 1 in 11 workers. Peak Lifting Index (PLI) and Peak Composite Lifting Index (PCLI) were associated with all three outcomes of LBP (p<0.05). PLI and PCLI had peak Hazard Ratios of 4.3 and 4.2 for LBP, 3.8 and 4.3 for M-LBP, and 23.0 and 21.9 for SC-LBP, respectively. LBP history was associated with all three outcomes of LBP. Age, gender, BMI, hobbies, and psychosocial factors showed inconsistent relationships with the three outcomes of LBP. Conclusion: Job physical demands are associated with increased risk of LBP, M-LBP and SC-LBP. The PLI and PCLI are useful metrics for estimating job physical demands.