Low back pain and related factors among Iranian office workers

ABSTRACT

Low Back Pain [LBP] is likely the most common medical disorder among work population. In this survey, prevalence of LBP and pain severity and the association of them with occupational and non-occupational risk factors were specified among office workers in Baqiyatallah University Of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2006 In this way the point prevalence of LBP and pain severity among office workers, role of some personal and occupational factors, and self-reported pain severity were assessed. The instruments used included direct interview, a body discomfort assessment tool that consisted of a 10-centimeter color Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] and a questionnaire. Face to face, interview was done for measuring of weight and height of subjects. Of 1580 volunteers, 1436 persons were participated. About 80% [79.8%] of respondents were male. Mean age of responders was 35.08 years. More than 60% had at least one episode of LBP during their working life and 45.0% of pain sufferers' first attack was during their employment. Lifetime prevalence of LBP was 92.1% and this result for last 12 months was 37.3%. Increased age up to 40 years, increased weight, sitting work style more than 4 hours, computer use more than 5 hours a day also past history of LBP had a positive association with increased like hood of occurrence of LBP. LBP had a high prevalence in office workers. This study might help to estimate low back problems in office workers and emphasize healthy lifestyle, ergonomic measurement and control, good posture and holding educational programs