A Retrospective Cross-sectional Survey of Non-specific Lower Back Pain among a Cohort of Chinese Army Soldiers

Abstract Research background Nonspecific lower back pain (LBP) has been a major public health problem in western countries since the second half of the 20 t h century. The trend has expanded to non-western countries, and LBP is currently a significant cause of disability in the working population. Objective To investigate the prevalence of nonspecific lower back pain (LBP) and its risk factors among soldiers in the Chinese army. Methods A total of 2876 Chinese army soldiers were requested to complete a self-administered questionnaire on demographic, anthropometric factors, and their non-specific LBP symptoms. The LBP evaluation and risk factor analysis were based on the self-questionnaire survey. Results The prevalence of non-specific LBP with physical state, one-child family, educational status, resident location and ethnicity were not associated (P > 0.05); while smoking, LBP history, LBP family history, nightmare frequency, sleep quality, and self-perceived fitness had significant effects on LBP (P  Conclusions Smoking, history of LBP, LBP family history, nightmare frequency, sleep quality, self-perceived fitness were important factors in the occurrence and persistence of LBP.