The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension
Sociocultural factors and back pain. A population-based study in Belgian adults.
A  population -based survey of approximately 4000 adults in Belgium , a bi-cultural country with a uniform health care system , explored the relationships of socio-cultural and employment factors to the reported experience of  low back pain ( LBP ) .  Predictors of 1 ) history of LBP , 2 ) first LBP , and 3 ) daily LBP were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis . Thirty-three percent of the population had current LBP , including 5 % experiencing their first episode ; 26 % had past but not current LBP , and 41 % had never had LBP . Increasing age ( OR > 2.0 , P = .000 ) and female gender ( OR 2.16 , P = .000 ) were associated with history of LBP ; only gender ( OR 1.40 , P = .02 ) was associated with first episode ; neither was associated with daily LBP . Language was associated with history ( OR 1.80 , P = .000 ) and first occurrence ( OR 1.77 , P = .000 ) but not daily LBP . Among those employed , work dissatisfaction was associated with history of LBP ( OR > 2.4 , P = .02 ) and daily LBP ( OR 3.85 , P = .02 ) , but not with first episode . The results suggest that sociocultural factors influence the expression of LBP , but not the risk of chronicity once LBP is reported , and that work satisfaction may not be causally related to LBP , but may intervene along with type of occupation in the possibility of continuing employment once LBP is present . Prospect i ve studies are needed to confirm these results and eluci date causal relationships
The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension