Low back pain and obesity in primary health care, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To assess the prevalence of obesity and its association with low back pain in patients attending health care centres. A case-control study of 2460 Arab patients attending urban and rural health centres in Riyadh region was conducted during Jan-Feb 1993. Twelve health centres participated in the study. All patients attending the health centres with low back pain [cases] were compared with patients free from back pain [non-cases]. The mean ages were 34 years for males and 32 years for females. Only 17.6% cases can be considered as non-obese compared with 42.6% non-obese among non-cases. The mean body mass index [BMI] of cases was 30.6 +/- 6.1 kg/m[2] compared with 26.7 +/- 5.8 kg/m[2] of non-cases [p<0.01]. Body mass indices were higher among females, those of low education, housewives, non-Saudis and the divorced or widowed than other groups [p<0.01]. Patients living in rural areas had higher BMI than those residing in urban areas [P< 0.01]. Low back pain is associated with obesity. The prevalence of obesity is higher in females, housewives, non-Saudis, the divorced, the widowed, and among those living in rural areas