Associations of sickness absence for pain in the low back, neck and shoulders with wider propensity to pain

Authors

David Coggon, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Georgia Ntani, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Karen Walker-Bone, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Vanda E. Felli, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Raul Harari, IFA (Institute for the Development of Production and the Work Environment), Quito, Ecuador
Lope H. Barrero, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
Sarah A. Felknor, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA.
Marianela Rojas, National University of Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
Anna Cattrell, Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford, Essex, UK.
Muhammad Masood Kadir, Aga Khan UnviversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the association of sickness absence ascribed to pain at specific anatomical sites with wider propensity to musculoskeletal pain.
Methods: As part of the CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) study, potential risk factors for sickness absence from musculoskeletal pain were determined for 11 922 participants from 45 occupational groups in 18 countries. After approximately 14 months, 9119 (78%) provided follow-up information about sickness in the past month because of musculoskeletal pain, including 8610 who were still in the same job. Associations with absence for pain at specific anatomical sites were assessed by logistic regression and summarised by ORs with 95% CIs.
Results: 861 participants (10%) reported absence from work because of musculoskeletal pain during the month before follow-up. After allowance for potential confounders, risk of absence ascribed entirely to low back pain (n=235) increased with the number of anatomical sites other than low back that had been reported as painful in the year before baseline (ORs 1.6 to 1.7 for ≥4 vs 0 painful sites). Similarly, associations with wider propensity to pain were observed for absence attributed entirely to pain in the neck (ORs up to 2.0) and shoulders (ORs up to 3.4).
Conclusions: Sickness absence for pain at specific anatomical sites is importantly associated with wider propensity to pain, the determinants of which extend beyond established risk factors such as somatising tendency and low mood. Better understanding of why some individuals are generally more prone to musculoskeletal pain might point to useful opportunities for prevention.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Recommended Citation

Coggon, D., Ntani, G., Walker-Bone, K., Felli, V. E., Harari, R., Barrero, L. H., Felknor, S. A., Rojas, M., Cattrell, A., Kadir, M. (2020). Associations of sickness absence for pain in the low back, neck and shoulders with wider propensity to pain. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 77(5), 301-308.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_chs_chs/771

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.