One-year predictive factors for various aspects of neck disorders

Study Design. A longitudinal epidemiologic study conducted over 12 months a mong active workers in different occupations. The study was primarily desig ned to evaluate intervention for prevention of low back and other spinal di sorders. Objective. To determine factors that predict incidence, recurrence, and per sistence of neck disorders (ND), taking into account various dimensions of ND. Summary of Background Data. Neck pain is often supposed to have essentially the same risk factors as back pain; however, there is comparatively little data relevant to this issue. Moreover, there is a lack of prospective stud ies that take into account a diversity of predictive factors. Methods. The Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal sympt oms was completed twice at a 12-month interval by 568 workers. Predictive f actors were studied with logistic models for four dimensions of ND from the second questionnaire: 1) any ND in the past 6 months; 2) ND for more than 30 days; 3) treatment for ND; and 4) visit to a health care professional fo r ND. The predictive factors were obtained from the first questionnaire and included gender, age, occupational group, level of psychological distress and psychosomatic problems, and ND at baseline. Results. Female gender and older age were predictors of RID. Headaches or p ain in the head, psychological distress, and psychosomatic problems were pr edictors for all dimensions of ND. These effects were observed for both inc idence and persistence of ND. Conclusions. The results emphasize the role of psychosomatic and psychologi cal factors in the occurrence and course of MD for various dimensions of th e disorder.