Predictors of long term outcome in low back pain

January 01, 0001

Predictors of long term outcome in low back pain

A variety of psychosocial factors are known to be linked with short term outcome with low back pain. These Danish researchers wanted to see if how findings from initial visits for back pain linked to outcomes 22 years later. They followed a cohort of 72 patients with back pain from a single practice in Denmark. Finding were grouped into pain characteristics, clinical signs and work history.

The researchers found: "After 22 years, four out of five patients still experienced low back pain. The perception of poor working conditions correlates with recurrent low back pain, intake of painkillers and imitations to daily life."

The researchers concluded: "Compared with pain history and clinical findings, the perception of workload is a better predictor of the long-term outcome of low back pain."

This long term study reinforces the complex psychosocial dynamics of chronic low back pain.


For the full abstract, click here.

Family Practice 27(6):609-614, December 2010 © 2010
Early predictors of the long-term outcome of low back pain—results of a 22-year prospective cohort study. F Lønnberg, PA Pedersen and V Siersma. Correspondence to F Lønnberg: [email protected]

Category: M. Musculoskeletal. Keywords: low back pain, chronic low back pain, clinical findings, pain, work, cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 18 February 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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