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Original article| Volume 94, ISSUE 4, P745-752, April 2013

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Relations of C-Reactive Protein and Obesity to the Prevalence and the Odds of Reporting Low Back Pain

  • Matthew S. Briggs
    Correspondence
    Corresponding author Matthew S. Briggs, DPT, PhD Candidate, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, OSU Sports Medicine, 2050 Kenny Rd, Columbus, OH 43221.
    Affiliations
    Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH

    Division of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH

    Sports Health and Performance Institute, Ohio State University Sports Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
    Search for articles by this author
  • Deborah L. Givens
    Affiliations
    Department of Physical Therapy, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Omaha, NE
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  • Laura C. Schmitt
    Affiliations
    Division of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH

    Sports Health and Performance Institute, Ohio State University Sports Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
    Search for articles by this author
  • Christopher A. Taylor
    Affiliations
    Division of Medical Dietetics, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
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Published:November 26, 2012DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.11.026

      Abstract

      Objective

      To assess the odds of reporting low back pain (LBP) as related to systemic inflammation and obesity.

      Design

      Cross-sectional analysis of the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

      Setting

      National database analysis.

      Participants

      Population-based sample of 15,322 participants in the 1999 to 2004 NHANES databases.

      Interventions

      Not applicable.

      Main Outcome Measures

      Systemic inflammation was measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen. Obesity was quantified by body mass index and waist circumference (WC). LBP was identified by self-report. Analysis included logistic regression to assess the odds of reporting LBP as related to systemic inflammation and obesity.

      Results

      It was hypothesized that obesity and systemic inflammation would increase the odds of reporting LBP. Participants with elevated CRP (>3.0mg/dL) had 1.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–2.91) greater odds of reporting LBP. Those who were obese (≥30kg/m2) with elevated CRP had 2.87 (95% CI, 1.18–6.96) greater odds of reporting LBP than those without elevated CRP. When using WC as the measure of obesity, participants with high WC values had significantly greater odds of reporting LBP (odds ratio=2.39; 95% CI, 1.09–5.21).

      Conclusions

      To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that high levels of CRP may increase the odds of reporting LBP, especially in those who are obese. These findings warrant further investigation of the interrelations among obesity, systemic inflammation, and LBP.

      Keywords

      List of abbreviations:

      BMI (body mass index), CI (confidence interval), CRP (C-reactive protein), LBP (low back pain), NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), NW (normative weight), OB (obese), OR (odds ratio), OW (overweight), UW (underweight), WC (waist circumference)
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