Chronic lower back pain and presenteeism among older workers: A prospective cohort study

Akira Ogami, Yoshihisa Fujino, Ryutaro Matsugaki
Purpose:

This study aimed to investigate the impact of CLBP on presenteeism among older workers.

Methods:

This was a prospective cohort study using an internet survey of 5000 workers aged 60 to 75 years, with a baseline survey in September 2022 and a follow-up survey in October 2023. In this study, 2742 participants were included in the analysis after excluding those who had presenteeism at baseline and who could not be followed up. Presenteeism was assessed using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale. CLBP was defined as the presence of low back pain lasting more than 3 months. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models with presenteeism as the dependent variable and CLBP as the explanatory variable to obtain the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Stata MP/18.0 was used for statistical analyses, with a significance level of 5%.

This study was approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (approval number: R4-031). Informed consent was obtained from all respondents using a check box on the questionnaire response screen.

Results:

Among the 2742 participants, 20.7% (n=568) of participants had CLBP at baseline, and 3.2% (n=88) of participants had presenteeism at follow up period. Compared with the non-CLBP group, the CLBP group had higher incidence of presenteeism (2.6% vs. 5.6%, p0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, CLBP was associated with presenteeism (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.27–3.17, p=0.003).

Conclusion(s):

Our findings demonstrate that chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is significantly associated with presenteeism among older workers. The results suggest that preventing CLBP is crucial for maintaining and enhancing productivity in the aging workforce.Our findings demonstrate that chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is significantly associated with presenteeism among older workers. The results suggest that preventing CLBP is crucial for maintaining and enhancing productivity in the aging workforce.

Implications:

The prevention and management of CLBP require a comprehensive, multidisciplinary The prevention and management of CLBP require a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. This study highlights the need for employers who employ older workers to implement occupational health interventions for the prevention of CLBP in order to support the productive working lives of older workers.

Funding acknowledgements:
This study was supported by the FULLHAPP, UOEH Research Grant, Japanese Society of Physical Therapy, and JSPS KAKENHI (24K20394).
Keywords:
Chronic lower back pain
Presenteeism
Older worker
Primary topic:
Occupational health and ergonomics
Second topic:
Occupational health and ergonomics
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Medical Research Ethics Committee of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
Provide the ethics approval number:
R4-031
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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