Cross-sectional study of low-back pain (LBP) in children and adolescents: Prevalence and risk factor.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of non specific LBP in children and adolescents and identify factors directly associated with LBP, which will allow us to establish a program to prevent non specific LBP in childhood.

MATERIAL/PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study about 444 students, 201 boys and 243 girls, with average age of 14.95 years. Evaluation includes anthropometric assessment, extensibility of sub pelvic muscles and the endurance of back muscles and quadriceps with spine examination.

RESULTS: The prevalence was 22.3%, 95% CI (confidence interval) [18.2 to 26.2]. This prevalence increases with age with a marked female predominance. The onset of symptoms started at about the age of 13.45 years. It is slightly moderate pain (Analogical Visual Scale=3.37). It causes school absenteeism in 13% of cases and sports interruption in 15% of cases. Logistic regression identified four factors directly associated with low-back pain: The number of hours spent on computer games (odds ratio 'OR'=1.05 CI: 1.009-1.105), the slung schoolbag (OR=1.74 CI=1.03-2.93), overweight (OR=2.11 CI=1.18-4.37) and the imbalance of the shoulders (OR=2.4 CI=1.04-5.55).

DISCUSSION - CONCLUSION: Low-back pain in children and adolescents is a frequent symptom with many factors, which causes reduction of school and leisure activities. So, it deserves to be evaluated by a longitudinal study with a standardized questionnaire.