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Table 2 Univariate analysis of possible risk factors for low back pain (LBP) in the past 12 months among study (n = 740) health care workers (HCWs)

From: Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among health care workers in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Characteristics

Total number of HCWs

LBP in the past 12 months

OR(95%CI)

No

%

Level of healthcare

 Primary

176

114

64.8

Ref

 Secondary and tertiary

564

433

76.7

1.80 (1.25–2.59)

Sex

  

7

 

 Male

403

293

2.7

Ref

 Female

337

254

75.4

1.15 (0.83–1.60)

Age (years)

 20-

232

158

68.1

Ref

 30-

319

255

79.9

1.87 (1.26–2.75)

 40-

131

93

71.0

1.15 (0.72–1.83

  > 50

58

41

70.7

1.13 (0.60–2.12)

Job title

 Physician

353

259

73.2

Ref

 Nurse

214

156

72.9

0.99 (0.67–1.45)

 Paramedic

145

108

74.5

1.07 (0.69–1.66)

 Dentist

27

25

88.9

2.93 (0.86–9.97)

Experience in years

 Less than 5

100

69

69.0

Ref

 5–10

283

205

72.4

1.18 (0.72–1.94)

 More than 10

357

273

76.5

1.46 (0.90–2.38)

Work conditions

 Long standing

126

86

68.3

Ref

 Long sitting

290

225

77.6

1.61 (1.01–2.56)

 Both

324

236

72.8

1.25 (0.80–1.95)

Body mass index

 Normal weight

282

201

71.3

Ref

 Overweight

321

235

73.2

1.10 (0.77–1.57)

 Obese

137

111

81.0

1.72 (1.04–2.83)

Health status

 No chronic disease

586

428

73.0%

Ref

 One or more chronic diseases

154

119

77.3

1.26 (0.83–1.91)

Regular physical activity

 No

227

157

69.2

Ref

 Yes

513

390

76.0

0.70 (0.5–0.99)

Back Traumaa

 No

637

448

70.3

Ref

 Yes

103

99

96.1

10.44 (3.79-28.78)

Smoking status

 No

656

484

73.8

Ref

 Yes

84

63

75.0

1.07 (0.63–1.80)

  1. Bold aOR (95% CI) are statistically significant
  2. OR odds ratio for studied factors, (95% CI) 95% confidence interval
  3. aOverexertional trauma, fall, or lifting heavy objects