Table 1
Inception cohorts: summary of risk factors for back pain the ‘disease’
| Variable | Number of studies | Number of studies: increased risk | Number of studies: decreased risk | Number of studies not significant | Strength of association (95%CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female sex | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Negative association: OR 0.4 (0.3, 0.8) [25] (c) Positive association: OR 1.5 (1.3, 1.7) [29] (c) OR 1.8 (1.1, 3.1) [24] |
| Older Age | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | OR 2.1 (1.2, 3.7) [25] (c) OR 1.2 (1.1, 1.3) (boys) [24] OR 3.4 [27] (graph interpretation, c) |
| Increased physical activity | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | RR 1.4 (1.1, 1.9) [23] OR 2.3 [27] (graph interpretation, c) |
| Psychosocial | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Dysfunctional coping: OR 1.4 (1.1, 2.0) (boys) [24] Anxiety sensitivity: OR: 1.5 (1.1, 2.0) (boys) [24] Somatosensory amplification: OR 1.8 (1.0,3.1) (girls) [24] Psychological distress: OR 1.9 (1.1, 3.2) [26] Emotional or behavioural disorders: OR 1.9 (1.0, 3.4) [26] |
| Socioeconomic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Lower parental education: OR 1.7 (1.1, 2.8) [26] |
| Increased growth | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Increased growth spurt one SD (4.3 cm) 11–14 yr: OR 1.3 (1.1, 1.7) [28] |
| Muscle strength | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Increased back flexor strength OR 2.8 [27] (graph interpretation, c) |
| Smoking | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Heavy smoking: OR 1.9 (1.1, 3.1) [26] |
| Increased BMI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | NA |
| Illness | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | NA |