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Sex differences in the change in health-related quality of life associated with low back pain

Abstract

Purpose  

To examine the sex differences in the impact of low back pain (LBP) on health-related quality of life among community-dwelling
persons from a nationwide sample.

Methods  

Our analysis enrolled 2,358 participants from among 3,477 randomly selected subjects in Japan. The cumulative days each individual
experienced LBP were prospectively measured over 1 month. The Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary
(MCS) in the Short Form 8-item Health Survey were evaluated before and after the study period. Sex differences in the impact
of the cumulative number of LBP days on PCS and MCS scores were evaluated using linear regression analysis.

Results  

Among the 2,170 participants with complete data, the prevalence of LBP in women (32%) was higher than that in men (25%) during
the study period. One-day increases in LBP days were associated with greater decreases in PCS scores among men than among
women (−0.72 vs. −0.29, sex difference P < 0.001). In contrast, no relationship was noted between the number of LBP days and the change in MCS score for either sex
after adjustment.

Conclusions  

Although a greater incidence of LBP was noted in women, health-related quality of life was more seriously affected in men
with the same number of days with LBP in the month.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Pages 1-7
  • DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-0087-1
  • Authors
    • Rei Ono, Department of Community Health Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 4-7-18 Tomogoka, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 654-0142 Japan
    • Takahiro Higashi, Department of Public Health/Health Policy, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
    • Osamu Takahashi, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Luke’s International Hospital, 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560 Japan
    • Yasuharu Tokuda, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8575 Japan
    • Takuro Shimbo, Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655 Japan
    • Hiroyoshi Endo, Department of International Affairs and Tropical Medicine, Tokyo Women’s Medical University School of Medicine, 8-1 Kawata-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8666 Japan
    • Shigeaki Hinohara, St. Luke’s Life Science Institute, St. Luke’s International Hospital, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0044 Japan
    • Tsuguya Fukui, St. Luke’s Life Science Institute, St. Luke’s International Hospital, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0044 Japan
    • Shunichi Fukuhara, Department of Epidemiology and Health Care Research, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan