Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Low back pain is an important public health issue across the world. However, it is unclear whether socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with low back pain. This study determines an association between SES and low back pain among older people. Methods We used cross-sectional d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0918-1 |
| _version_ | 1819213390117076992 |
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| author | Takaaki Ikeda Kemmyo Sugiyama Jun Aida Toru Tsuboya Nanae Watabiki Katsunori Kondo Ken Osaka |
| author_facet | Takaaki Ikeda Kemmyo Sugiyama Jun Aida Toru Tsuboya Nanae Watabiki Katsunori Kondo Ken Osaka |
| author_sort | Takaaki Ikeda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Low back pain is an important public health issue across the world. However, it is unclear whether socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with low back pain. This study determines an association between SES and low back pain among older people. Methods We used cross-sectional data derived from the year 2013 across 30 Japanese municipalities. The survey was conducted between October 2013 to December 2013. Functionally independent community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and above (n = 26,037) were eligible for the study. Multilevel Poisson regression analysis with a robust variance estimator was used to examine the association between SES and low back pain. Self-reported low back pain in the past year was used as a dependent variable. Educational attainment, past occupation, equivalized household income, wealth, and subjective economic situation represented SES and were separately analyzed as independent variables, adjusted for covariates including age and sex. Results The prevalence of low back pain was 63.4%. Overall, lower SES were more likely to suffer from low back pain compared with that for the highest. First, as for the educational attainment, the prevalence ratio (PR) (95% credible interval (CI)) for the lowest level was 1.07 (1.02–1.12). Second, as for the past occupation, the PR (95% CI) for the blue-collared workers compared with professionals was 1.06 (1.01–1.11). Third, as for the equalized household income, the PRs (95% CI) for lower middle and the lowest income levels were 1.08 (1.02–1.13) and 1.16 (1.10–1.23), respectively. Fourth, as for the wealth, the PRs (95% CI) for lower middle and the lowest wealth levels were 1.11 (1.04–1.19) and 1.18 (1.11–1.27), respectively. Fifth, as for the subjective economic situation, the PRs (95% CI) for lower middle and the lowest financial conditions were 1.18 (1.10–1.26) and 1.32 (1.22–1.44), respectively. Conclusions Significant socioeconomic inequalities were observed in low back pain among older individuals in Japan. Policymakers and clinicians must understand the nature of these inequalities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:58:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f80fbd35a228407b8a97e2fcf12fceca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:58:06Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f80fbd35a228407b8a97e2fcf12fceca2022-12-21T17:56:15ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762019-01-0118111110.1186/s12939-019-0918-1Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional studyTakaaki Ikeda0Kemmyo Sugiyama1Jun Aida2Toru Tsuboya3Nanae Watabiki4Katsunori Kondo5Ken Osaka6Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Sendai Seiyo Gakuin Junior CollegeDepartment of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistryDepartment of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistryDepartment of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistrySendai Pain Clinic CenterCenter for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba UniversityDepartment of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistryAbstract Background Low back pain is an important public health issue across the world. However, it is unclear whether socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with low back pain. This study determines an association between SES and low back pain among older people. Methods We used cross-sectional data derived from the year 2013 across 30 Japanese municipalities. The survey was conducted between October 2013 to December 2013. Functionally independent community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and above (n = 26,037) were eligible for the study. Multilevel Poisson regression analysis with a robust variance estimator was used to examine the association between SES and low back pain. Self-reported low back pain in the past year was used as a dependent variable. Educational attainment, past occupation, equivalized household income, wealth, and subjective economic situation represented SES and were separately analyzed as independent variables, adjusted for covariates including age and sex. Results The prevalence of low back pain was 63.4%. Overall, lower SES were more likely to suffer from low back pain compared with that for the highest. First, as for the educational attainment, the prevalence ratio (PR) (95% credible interval (CI)) for the lowest level was 1.07 (1.02–1.12). Second, as for the past occupation, the PR (95% CI) for the blue-collared workers compared with professionals was 1.06 (1.01–1.11). Third, as for the equalized household income, the PRs (95% CI) for lower middle and the lowest income levels were 1.08 (1.02–1.13) and 1.16 (1.10–1.23), respectively. Fourth, as for the wealth, the PRs (95% CI) for lower middle and the lowest wealth levels were 1.11 (1.04–1.19) and 1.18 (1.11–1.27), respectively. Fifth, as for the subjective economic situation, the PRs (95% CI) for lower middle and the lowest financial conditions were 1.18 (1.10–1.26) and 1.32 (1.22–1.44), respectively. Conclusions Significant socioeconomic inequalities were observed in low back pain among older individuals in Japan. Policymakers and clinicians must understand the nature of these inequalities.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0918-1IncomeEducational attainmentSubjective economic situationOccupationLow back painSocioeconomic status |
| spellingShingle | Takaaki Ikeda Kemmyo Sugiyama Jun Aida Toru Tsuboya Nanae Watabiki Katsunori Kondo Ken Osaka Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study International Journal for Equity in Health Income Educational attainment Subjective economic situation Occupation Low back pain Socioeconomic status |
| title | Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people: the JAGES cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | socioeconomic inequalities in low back pain among older people the jages cross sectional study |
| topic | Income Educational attainment Subjective economic situation Occupation Low back pain Socioeconomic status |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0918-1 |
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