Objectives
To assess differences in the prevalence and incidence of low back pain (LBP) and associated disability among office workers in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Spain.
Methods
Data were collected at baseline (n=947, 93% response) in November 2007 and at follow-up after 12 months (n=853, 90% response). Six outcome measures were examined: baseline prevalence of (1) LBP in past 12 months, (2) LBP in past month, and (3) disabling LBP in past month; and at follow-up: (4) incidence of new LBP in the past month, (5) new disabling LBP, and (6) persistent LBP. Differences in prevalence by country were characterized by odd ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), before and after adjustment for covariates.
Results
Prevalence of LBP in the past month among office employees in Costa Rica (46.0%) and Nicaragua (44.2%) was higher than in Spain (33.6%). Incidence of new LBP was 37.0% in Nicaragua (OR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.57-3.95), 14.9% in Costa Rica (OR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.41-1.34), and 19.0% in Spain (reference). Incidence of new disabling LBP was higher in Nicaragua, 17.2% (OR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.43-4.34) and Costa Rica, 13.6% (OR=1.89; 95% CI: 1.03-3.48) than Spain (7.7%), while persistence of LBP was higher only in Nicaragua.
Conclusions
Prevalence of LBP and disabling LBP was higher in Costa Rican and Nicaraguan office workers than in Spain, but incidence was higher mainly in Nicaragua. Measured sociodemographic, job-related and health-related variables only partly explained the differences between countries, and further research is needed to explore reasons for the remaining differences.
Objectives
To estimate the prevalence and incidence of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain (UEMP) and related disability among office workers in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Spain.
Methods
Data from the multinational CUPID study on 947 (93%) participants at baseline with 90% follow-up after 12 months. logistic regression was used to estimate the associations (odds ratios [ORs] and corresponding 95% confidence intervals [95%CIs]) between country and six outcomes: baseline prevalence of (1) UEMP in past 12 months, (2) UEMP in past month, and (3) disabling UEMP in past month; (4) incidence of new UEMP at follow-up; (5) incidence of new disabling UEMP at follow-up; and (6) persistence of UEMP at follow-up, after adjustment for sociodemographic, job-related and health-related covariates.
Results
Baseline prevalence of UEMP in the past month was higher in Costa Rica (53.6%) (OR=1.89; 95% CI: 1.36-2.62), and Nicaragua (51.9%) (OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.28-2.35) than in Spain (38.4%). Compared to Spain (33.2%), the incidence of new UEMP was 50.4% in Costa Rica (OR=2.04; 95% CI: 1.34-3.12), and 60.2% in Nicaragua (OR=3.04; 95% CI: 2.06-4.50). The incidence of disabling UEMP was higher in Nicaragua (OR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.50-4.41) and Costa Rica (OR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.22-3.84) when compared to Spain.
Conclusion
Prevalence of UEMP was approximately 2-fold higher and its incidence 2- to 3-fold higher in Costa Rica and Nicaragua as compared with Spain. Between-country differences were only partially explained by the covariates analyzed. Research is needed to explore other aspects of work and cultural attributes that might explain the residual differences in UEMP.
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