J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2014 Dec;56(6):482-487. 10.3340/jkns.2014.56.6.482.

Chronic Low Back Pain in Young Korean Urban Males: The Life-Time Prevalence and Its Impact on Health Related Quality of Life

• Shim JH
• Lee KS
• Yoon SY
• Lee CH
• Doh JW
• Bae HG

• KMID: 2191137
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2014.56.6.482

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We assessed the life-time prevalence (LTP) of chronic low back pain (LBP) in young Korean males. We also evaluated the relationship between lumbar spinal lesions and their health related quality-of-life (HRQOL).
METHODS
A cross-sectional, self-reported survey was conducted in Korean males (aged 19-year-old) who underwent physical examinations for the conscript. We examined 3331 examinees in November 2014. We included 2411 subjects, who accepted to participate this study without any comorbidities. We interviewed using simple binary questions for their LBP experience and chronicity. HRQOL was assessed by Short-Form Health-Survey-36 (SF-36) in chronic LBP and healthy control groups. Radiological assessment was performed in chronic LBP group to determine whether there were any pathological causes of their symptoms.
RESULTS
The LTP of chronic LBP was 13.4%. Most (71.7%) of them didn't have any lumbar spinal lesions (i.e., non-specific chronic LBP). The SF-36 subscale and summary scores were significantly lower in subjects with chronic LBP. Between specific and non-specific chronic LBP group, all physical and mental subscale scores were significantly lower in specific chronic LBP group, except mental health (MH) subscale score. In MH subscale and mental component summary score, statistical significant differences didn't appear between two groups (p=0.154, 0.126).
CONCLUSION
In Korean males 19 years of age, the LTP of chronic LBP was 13.4%, and more than two-thirds were non-specific chronic LBP. Chronic LBP had a significant impact on HRQOL. The presence of lumbar spinal pathoanatomical lesions affected mainly on the physical aspect of HRQOL. It influenced little on the mental health.

Keyword

Chronic low back pain; Public health; Quality of life; Health surveys

MeSH Terms

Comorbidity
Health Surveys
Humans
Low Back Pain*
Male
Mental Health
Physical Examination
Prevalence*
Public Health
Quality of Life*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Summarized overall study design and inclusion/exclusion criteria. CLBP : chronic low back pain, LBP : low back pain, SF-36 survey : Short-Form Health-survey-36.

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