Epidemiology of lumbar pain in patients at a general polyclinic in Santiago, Chile
Hernández Puebla, J.; Moreno Goio, E.
Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau 98(1): 53-59
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-0632 PMID: 3155951 Document Number: 256037
The prevalence of lumbago and the factors that bring it on and intensify it were examined in a study that included 102 patients of both sexes from a low socioeconomic sector who sought assistance for lumbar pain at the Pablo de Rocka Clinic in Santiago. Chile, from Feb. 2 to March 25, 1981. Although the patients were from 11 to 80 yr of age, most of them were between 31 and 40; 73.5% were women and 26.4% were men. Obesity was present in 52.9% of all cases (47.0% were women and 5.9% were men); 36.2% of the patients were housewives and 9.8% were male construction workers. Psychogenic factors were present in 48.0% of the women and in 11.0% of the men. Loss of work days and disability pensions granted because of lumbago were evaluated, as were the number of visits due to lumbar pain and the diagnostic methods used to determine the etiology of the disorder. The outstanding preventive measure is to educate the population in regard to the pathogenesis of lumbago.