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Table 1 Associations of risk factors at baseline with new onset of disabling low back pain

From: Assessment of potential risk factors for new onset disabling low back pain in Japanese workers: findings from the CUPID (cultural and psychosocial influences on disability) study

Risk factor

an (%)

bOR

(95% CI)

cOR

(95% CI)

Age

 < 40 years

618 (65.2)

    

 40–49 years

200 (21.1)

    

 ≥ 50 years

130 (13.7)

    

Female gender

302 (31.7)

    

Past history of LBP

313 (33.8)

2.6

(1.5–4.6)*

  

Finished full-time education before age 19 years

304 (31.9)

1.4

(0.8–2.6)

1.4

(0.7–2.7)

BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (obesity)

133 (14.2)

1.1

(0.5–2.5)

0.9

(0.4–2.1)

< 5 h sleep per day

82 (8.7)

1.8

(0.8–3.9)

1.5

(0.6–3.4)

Not married

445 (46.9)

0.8

(0.4–1.4)

0.8

(0.4–1.4)

Heavy smoker

133 (13.9)

0.8

(0.4–1.5)

0.6

(0.2–1.9)

Employed in current job for <1 year

96 (10.1)

1.2

(0.5–2.7)

1.3

(0.6–3.1)

Work ≥60 h per week

364 (38.8)

2.1

(1.1–4.0)*

2.0

(1.1–3.9)*

Lift weights ≥25 kg by hand

452 (47.3)

1.9

(1.1–3.3)*

1.9

(1.1–3.3)*

Aware of colleague(s) with LBP

687 (72.5)

1.2

(0.6–2.2)

1.1

(0.6–2.2)

Aware of family member(s) with LBP

301 (31.5)

1.2

(0.7–2.2)

1.1

(0.6–2.0)

Irregular work shifts

304 (31.9)

1.1

(0.6–2.0)

1.1

(0.6–1.9)

Interpersonal stress at work

458 (48.0)

1.3

(0.7–2.2)

1.1

(0.6–1.9)

Inadequate breaks at work

507 (53.1)

1.8

(1.0–3.1)

1.6

(0.9–2.9)

Lack of job control

347 (36.4)

0.9

(0.5–1.5)

0.8

(0.5–1.5)

Lack of support at work

72 (7.7)

2.0

(0.8–4.6)

1.9

(0.8–4.6)

Dissatisfied with job

378 (39.7)

0.8

(0.4–1.4)

0.7

(0.4–1.3)

Low mood

265 (28.0)

1.0

(0.6–1.9)

1.0

(0.5–1.8)

Regular exercise < once per week

652 (69.3)

1.0

(0.6–1.8)

0.9

(0.5–1.7)

Emotional trauma in childhood

66 (7.1)

2.0

(0.9–4.7)

1.7

(0.7–3.9)

Number distressing somatic symptoms

 0

760 (80.3)

1.0

 

1.0

 

 1

132 (13.9)

1.3

(0.6–2.6)

1.4

(0.7–2.9)

  ≥ 2

55 (5.8)

0.3

(0.0–1.9)

0.3

(0.0–2.0)

Adverse beliefs about LBP

 Work relatedness

306 (32.3)

1.3

(0.8–2.3)

1.3

(0.8–2.3)

 Physical activity

208 (22.0)

1.0

(0.5–1.9)

1.1

(0.5–2.0)

 Prognosis

155 (16.4)

0.8

(0.4–1.7)

0.9

(0.4–1.9)

  1. Totals may not sum to 100% due to rounding
  2. OR odds ratio; CI confidence interval; LBP low back pain
  3. aData on individual risk factors were missing for up to 29 participants. Each logistic regression analysis was limited to participants with complete information on all of the risk factors included in the relevant model
  4. bOdds ratios (with 95% confidence intervals) adjusted for age and gender
  5. cOdds ratios (with 95% confidence intervals) adjusted for age, gender and past history of LBP
  6. *P < 0.05. A cut-point of P < 0.1 was adopted to select risk factors for inclusion in a subsequent multivariate model (see Table 2)