Anthropometric patterns among patients with chronic mechanical low back pain

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Anthropometric parameters may have an association with chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP). Our aim was to evaluate the anthropometric patterns; body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WCJ and waist to height ratio (WHtR) among patients with CMLBP. METHODS: A total of 519 patients with CMLBP were recruited from a cohort of patients attending the rheumatology clinic at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Anthropometric parameters were measured using recommended techniques. Independent samples t test and one way ANOVA were used to compare the means of anthropometric parameters. The means of BM1, WC of the patients were compared with means of a national representative sample of Sri Lankan adults. Asian anthropometric cut offs were used to define obesity and abdominal obesity. RESULTS: 372 (71.7%) were females and mean age was 49.64 years (50=1.81). The mean BMI was 26.31 kg/m2 ($0=4.77), WC 85.98cm (50=10.65) and WHtR 0.56 (SD=0.08). Females had significantly higher BMI 27.24 kg/m2 ($0=4.68), WC 86.84cm (SD=10.59) and WHtR 0.577 (50=0.072) compared to males' BMI 23.95 kg/m2, SD=4.14), WC 83.79cm, (50=10.51) and WHtR 0.512 ($0=0.661) (p<0.05). Mean BMI, WC and WHtR increased with age (/xQ.OOl). CMLBP patients had high BMI and WC compared to the national representative sample of Sri Lankan adults (p<0.001). Females had more obesity and abdominal obesity compared to males (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High BMI and WC were seen in patients with CMLBP and the values increased with age. Females were obese and had high abdominal obesity, which may have contributed to CMLBP.