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Mena-Iturriaga M.J.1, Wainer-Baracatt M.P.1, Durcudoy-Pérez L.1, Leppe J.1, Sizer P.S.2, Mauri-Stecca M.V.1
1Universidad del Desarrollo, School of Physical Therapy, Santiago, Chile, 2Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Center for Rehabilitation Research, School of Health Professions, Lubbock, TX, United States
Background: In response to prolonged musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS), the world's population experiences 21.3%
of total life as years lived with disability (YLDs), thus generating high costs associated with treatment, complex comorbidities and potential recurrence. The prevalence of MSS in Chilean population reached
up to 37.6% in 2009.
of total life as years lived with disability (YLDs), thus generating high costs associated with treatment, complex comorbidities and potential recurrence. The prevalence of MSS in Chilean population reached
up to 37.6% in 2009.
Purpose: Knowing the prevalence of chronic MSS would allow clinicians to better control and management this condition's occurrence, severity and consequences. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic MSS reported in 2009-10 Chilean National Health Survey (NHS) and its relationship to social-demographic variables.
Methods: A secondary analysis study from the 2009-10 Chilean NHS was conducted in 2016. The chronic MSS variable was created considering those subjects with more than 12 weeks of MSS. Expansion factors were used to calculate the prevalence of chronic MSS and a logistic regression model determined its relationship to sex, age, educational level and nutritional status. All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA13.0 software.
Results: A sample of 5,293 subjects responded the NHS. From those who reported MSS, 79.5% (95%CI 76.4-82.2) corresponded with the chronic MSS definition. The chronic MSS prevalence was 42.5% (95%CI 40.2-44.8), reported in 48.8% women and 35.7% men respondents. The reported data by age range were: 24.1% (95%CI 20.1-28.6) for 15-24 years, 40.1% (95%CI 36.1-44.2) for 25-44 years, 53.3% (95%CI 49.3-57.3) for 45-64 years and 57.5% (95%CI 52.0-62.8) for those more than 64 years. Chronic MSS was reported in 55.8% (95%CI 51.3-60.2) low-, 41.6% (95%CI 38.7-44.6) medium-, and 34.1% (95%CI 29.4-39.2) high-educational levels. Finally, chronic MSS was reported in 32.8% (95%CI 29.1-36.7) normal weighted versus 48.1% (95%CI 45.1-51.1) overweighed respondents. Based on a multivariate model for chronic MSS, the Odds Ratios were 1.66 (95%CI 1.35-2.04), 1.02 (95%CI 1.02-1.03), 1.57 (95%CI 1.26-1.97), and 0.68 (95%CI 0.52-0.89) for sex, age, overweight and high educational level, respectively.
Conclusion(s): There is a high prevalence of chronic MSS in Chile. Chronic MSS are most prevalent in respondents who were women, older, with lower educational levels and overweighed. According to the multivariate model, sex, age, and overweight are risk factors for chronic MSS. However, such risk decreases in those subjects with high educational level. Future clinical studies should include prospective designs to assess the evolution of chronic MSS and its relationship with chronic pain and other variables.
Implications: Current national health policies may consider these findings for educating physiotherapists and other health related professionals about chronic MSS and its relationship to other clinical variables within the national context.
Funding acknowledgements: Not applicable
Topic: Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval: Not applicable, since the secondary database is available by the Ministry of Health for research purposes.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
