Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a major problem in modern society and it is important to study possible risk factors for this disorder. People with diabetes are often affected by LBP, but whether diabetes represents a risk factor for LBP has not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to explore the association between diabetes and subsequent risk of chronic LBP.
Design: An 11-year follow-up study.
Setting: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2; 1995-1997) and HUNT3 (2006-2008) surveys of Nord-Trøndelag County in Norway.
Main outcome measure: Chronic LBP, defined as LBP persisting at least 3 months continuously during the last year.
Participants: A total of 18 972 persons without chronic LBP at baseline in HUNT2, and 6802 persons who reported chronic LBP at baseline in HUNT2.
Methods: Associations between diabetes and risk of chronic LBP among individuals aged 30-69 years were examined by generalised linear modelling.
Results: Men without chronic LBP at baseline showed a significant association between diabetes and risk of chronic LBP (relative risk (RR) 1.43, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.96, p=0.043). In women, no association was found (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.48, p=0.98). No association could be established between diabetes and recurrence or persistence of chronic LBP after 11 years in either sex.
Conclusions: Men with a diagnosis of diabetes may have a higher risk of subsequently experiencing chronic LBP.
Keywords: HUNT; cohort; diabetes; low back pain; musculoskeletal disorder.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.