LOW-BACK-PAIN AND SUBSEQUENT CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY

Study Design. This was a prospective cohort study based on data of the Mini-Finland Health Examination Survey collected between 1978 and 198 0 with follow-up until the end of 1991. Objective. A number of studies have revealed associations between smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and low back pain. Therefore, it has been suggested that atheroscleros is could be involved in the etiology of low back pain. Low back pain w as studied for its prediction of mortality and, in particular, deaths from cardiovascular disease. Summary of Background Data. Of a national ly representative sample of 8000 people older than 29 years, 7217 (90% ) participated in a comprehensive health examination. At interviews, 5 459 (76%) had a history of low back pain. In a standardized clinical e xamination, 1253 (17%) were diagnosed as having chronic low back pain. Methods, The follow-up information on mortality and causes of death w as obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Finland. Results, B y the end of 1991, 1487 of the examinees had died, 815 from any cardio vascular disease and 501 from coronary heart disease. Neither the hist ory of back complaints nor chronic low back pain predicted mortality. Conclusion. That low back pain does not affect longevity disagrees wit h the hypothesis that atherosclerosis resulting in death from cardiova scular disease is etiologically linked to low back pain.