Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica: an umbrella review

Patricia Parreira; Chris G Maher; Daniel Steffens; Mark J Hancock; Manuela L Ferreira

doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.018

Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica: an umbrella review

Spine J. 2018 Sep;18(9):1715-1721. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.018. Epub 2018 May 21.

Authors

Patricia Parreira¹, Chris G Maher², Daniel Steffens³, Mark J Hancock⁴, Manuela L Ferreira⁵

Affiliations

¹ Sydney Medical School, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, PO Box M179, Missenden Rd, NSW 2050, Australia. Electronic address: patricia.silvaparreira@sydney.edu.au.
² Sydney Medical School, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, PO Box M179, Missenden Rd, NSW 2050, Australia.
³ Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, PO Box M157, Missenden Rd, NSW 2050, Australia.
⁴ Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 1507 Ground Floor 75 Talavera Rd, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
⁵ Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The Kolling Institute, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, PO Box 4191, Pacific Hwy, NSW 2065, Australia.

PMID: 29792997
DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.018

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a highly prevalent condition and it is associated with significant disability and work absenteeism worldwide. A variety of environmental and individual characteristics have been reported to increase the risk of LBP. To our knowledge, there has been no previous attempt to summarize the evidence from existing systematic reviews of risk factors for LBP or sciatica.

Purpose: To provide an overview of risk factors for LBP, we completed an umbrella review of the evidence from existing systematic reviews.

Study design: An umbrella review was carried out.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed PsychINFO, and CINAHL databases. To focus on the most recent evidence, we only included systematic reviews published in the last 5 years (2011-2016) examining any risk factor for LBP or sciatica. Only systematic reviews of cohort studies enrolling participants without LBP and sciatica at baseline were included. The methodological quality of the reviews was assessed independently by two review authors, using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews tool.

Results: We included 15 systematic reviews containing 134 cohort studies. Four systematic reviews were of high methodological quality and 11 were of moderate quality. Of the 54 risk factors investigated, 38 risk factors were significantly associated with increased risk of LBP or sciatica in at least one systematic review and the odds ratios ranged from 1.26 to 13.00. Adverse risk factors included characteristics of the individual (eg, older age), poor general health (eg, smoking), physical stress on spine (eg, vibration), and psychological stress (eg, depression).

Conclusion: Poor general health, physical and psychological stress, and characteristics of the person increase risk for a future episode of LBP or sciatica.

Keywords: Cohort studies; Low back pain; Risk factors; Sciatica; Systematic review; Umbrella review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Low Back Pain / epidemiology*
Risk Factors
Sciatica / epidemiology*