Nicotine dependence, obesity, alcohol abuse and depressive disorders are risk factors for low back pain, according to new research presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 24 to March 28 in Las Vegas.
Researchers reviewed electronic medical records of more than 26 million patients from 13 healthcare systems, including 1.2 million patients diagnosed with low back pain.
According to the research, the following patients reported lower back pain:
• Around 19.3 percent of patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder
• A little more than 16 percent of patients diagnosed as obese
• Approximately 16.53 percent of the patients diagnosed with nicotine dependence
• Also, 14.66 percent with reported alcohol abuse