The prevalence and risk factors of lower back pain among the general population in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: LBP is defined as back pain below the costal margin. It is one of the most seen complaints leading people to seek medical attention and it is even a leading cause for requiring surgical intervention. Our main target in this study is to measure the overall prevalence of LBP and discover its possible pre disposing factors and identify its burden on the general population of Al-Baha region, KSA. Method: A cross-sectional method by a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among the general residents of Al-Baha. Participants were informed beforehand of the study objectives, details and confidentiality policy. Multiple independent variables have been considered, such as socioeconomic status, health status and occupational factors. Results: The research participants were (409), 60.9% females and 39.1% males. 68.8% (282) of participants were positive for having LBP issues and the remaining 31.1% (127) were not. 67% of females and 33% of males have LBP problems, indicating a high variation between the two genders. From a social perspective, the study revealed that 71.63% of participants with LBP problems are married, while 25.18% are single. 72.86% of all participants have a family member with LBP. It is noted that 28% of participants think that LBP affects their working and personal life. Conclusion: Research outcomes demonstrated that LBP is a significant health issue among Al-Baha population and that has been attributed to multiple predisposing factors, which are: Regular physical activity, sitting position, work nature and previous arthritis diagnosis. Lastly, LBP was a significant burden on peoples' personal, social and occupational life.