Other health issues and lower back pain is relatively underinvestigated even though there are some associations with other factors. As such, the cause is unclear and is suggested as the classic hen and egg situation of… which comes first? Future research is needed to determine whether an association between lower back pain and respiratory disorders is causative or not, to develop troublesome back pain. ~ Dr. Broussard
Are respiratory disorders risk factors for troublesome low-back pain? A study of a general population cohort in Sweden
European Spine Journal
November 2019, Volume 28, Issue 11, pp 2502–2509
Abstract
Purpose
A multi-morbidity perspective of troublesome low back pain (LBP) has been highlighted for example in relation to respiratory disorders. Our purpose was to investigate whether respiratory disorders are risk factors for reporting troublesome LBP in people with no or occasional LBP at baseline.
Methods
This prospective cohort study was based on the Stockholm Public Health Cohort 2006/2010. We included adults reporting no or occasional LBP the last 6 months at baseline (n = 17,177). Exposures were self-reported asthma and/or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Outcome was troublesome LBP defined as reporting LBP a couple of days per week or more often that restricted work capacity or hindered daily activities to some or to a high degree, the last 6 months. Binomial regression models were used to calculate risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).
Results
Adjusted results indicate that those suffering from asthma had a risk of troublesome LBP at follow-up (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.92–1.81) as do those suffering from COPD (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.13–3.56). If suffering from asthma and concurrent COPD the RR was 3.55 (95% CI 1.58–7.98).
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that suffering from asthma and/or COPD increases the risk of developing troublesome LBP, which highlights the importance to consider the overall health of people at risk of troublesome LBP and to take the multi-morbidity perspective into consideration. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.