Objective:  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in a primary care setting population and examine its association with the symptoms of depression and somatization. Methods:  This is a cross‐sectional study, utilising a survey carried out in primary health care clinics (PHCs) in Al‐Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A multistage stratified sampling design was used and a representative sample of 1304 UAE nationals aged 18–65 years who attended PHC clinics for any reason were included and 1103 (84.5%) subjects agreed to participate and responded to the questionnaire during a period from June 2001 to January 2002. A specially designed questionnaire with three parts was used for the data collection: socio‐demographic information of the studied subjects, modified version of the Roland‐Morris scale for evaluating back‐related functional disability and SCL‐90 R for depression and somatization subscales was used to assess depressive and somatic symptoms. Results:  Of the total number of subjects surveyed (1103), 586 (53.1%) were men and 517 (46.9%) women. The mean age was 34.9 ± 13.4 years for men and 33.5 ± 11.8 years for women. The prevalence of LBP in the studied subjects was 64.7% (95% CI, 60.7–68.5] with 46.7% among men and 53.3% among women. There were a significant differences between the subjects with LBP and without LBP with respect to gender (P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), occupational status (P < 0.001) and living environment (P = 0.016). Functional disability was higher in patients with LBP. Young patients in aged 15–34 years, patients with preparatory/secondary educational level and students showed higher depressive symptoms. A similar pattern was found in patients with somatic symptoms. Factor analysis revealed a strong association between depression and somatization in LBP patients. Conclusions:  Functional disability was higher in with LBP. Furthermore, symptoms of depression and somatization are prevalent among LBP patients.

Aims:  Low back pain (LBP), a common presenting problem in general practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has received increasing attention in recent decades. We seek to investigate the prevalence of LBP and associated risk factors among people living in the typically hot, humid desert environment of the UAE. Methods:  A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. The setting was the Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinics in Al‐Ain, UAE. The subjects were a multistage stratified sample of 1304 UAE nationals, 15–70 years of age, who attended PHC clinics for any reason. All subjects were invited to participate. The questionnaire used in the survey is a modified version of the Roland‐Morris scale for evaluating low back pain. The questionnaires were administered during face‐to‐face interviews conducted in Arabic by qualified nurses. Results:  Of the total 1304 subject, 1103 (84.5%) living in both urban and rural areas agreed to participate and responded to the study; 586 (53.1%) were men and 517 (46.9%) women. The mean ages and SD of the subjects were 34.9 ± 13.4 years for the men and 33.5 ± 11.8 years for the women. The prevalence of LBP in the present study was 64.6% (95% CI = 60.7–68.5). The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences between men and women with respect to LBP and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), marital status (P < 0.001), occupational status (P < 0.001), housing condition (P < 0.001), and smoking habits (P < 0.001). Back pain had a greater influence on the lifestyle habits of the women than men. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that only BMI (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 2.30–281; P < 0.001), prolonged standing (OR = 6.22, 95% CI = 4.01–9.67; P < 0.0001), weakness in leg (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.16–3.85; P = 0.0142), lifting heavy weights (OR = 6.34, 95% CI = 4.09–9.84; P = 0.019) regular exercise (OR = 12.47, 95% CI = 7.50–20.71; P < 0.001) and smoking habits (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.08–2.38; P < 0.05) had a significant effect on the presence of LBP in these patients. Conclusions:  The study showed that the prevalence of back‐related disability was higher among women than men in the UAE. Also, low socio‐economic status and adverse lifestyle habits may constitute risk factors and predictors of LBP.

This study compared the ability of the Arabic General Health questionnaire (AGHQ) and Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) to screen ICD-10 psychiatric disorders in an Arab community in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Standardised psychiatric assessments of subjects using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were carried out. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine validity indices for the AGHQ and SRQ-20. For the AGHQ, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) were 86, 85 and 93% respectively, while for the SRQ-20, validity indices were 83, 83 and 90% respectively. Overall performance of the AGHQ was significantly better than the SRQ-20, especially in males and those under the age of 30 years. We conclude that both questionnaires are valid screening instruments in an Arab community in the UAE.

ResumenEste estudio comparó la capacidad del Cuestionario Árabe de Salud General (AGHQ) y el Cuestionario de Autoinforme (SRQ-20) para detectar selectivamente trastornos psiquiátricos de la CIE-10 en una comunidad árabe en Al Ain, Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Se llevaron a cabo evaluaciones psiquiátricas estandarizadas de los sujetos utilizando la Entrevista Diagnóstica Internacional Compuesta (CIDI). Se utilizó el análisis Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) para determinar índices de validez para el AGHQ y el SRQ-20. Para el AGHQ, la sensibilidad, la especificidad y el área bajo la curva (ABC) fueron 86, 85 y 93%, respectivamente, mientras que para el SRQ-20, fueron 83, 83 y 90%, respectivamente. Las cualida-des globales del AGHQ fueron significativamente mejores que el del SRQ-20, especialmente en varones y menores de 30 años de edad. Concluimos que ambos cuestionarios son instramentos válidos de detección selectiva en una comunidad árabe en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos.