Mika Matsunaga, Ryusei Okegawa, Nobuyuki Fujita, Tsuyoshi Kitajima, Hiroshi Yatsuya, Atsuhiko Ota
{"title":"Association between eveningness and low back pain among public servants in Japan: a cross-sectional analysis of the Aichi Workers' Cohort Study.","authors":"Mika Matsunaga, Ryusei Okegawa, Nobuyuki Fujita, Tsuyoshi Kitajima, Hiroshi Yatsuya, Atsuhiko Ota","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-09048-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Low back pain (LBP) is a common occupational health problem. Chronotype, an individual's preferred timing of activity and sleep, has been linked to pain perception. Previous studies have found a potential association between chronotype and LBP, although the findings were limited by small sample sizes and restricted population types. We investigated the association between evening chronotype (eveningness) and LBP in a cohort comprising public servants of various ages.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 4728 full-time public servants in Japan. LBP was assessed using a self-reported question. Individuals' chronotypes were determined using the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. The association between chronotype and LBP was analyzed using the chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, occupation, overtime work, use of the internet/email, body mass index, smoking status, exercise habits, sedentary behavior, sleep duration, sleep medication use, and depressive symptoms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 30% of the subjects reported LBP. The most common chronotype was intermediate type (51%), followed by morningness (38%) and eveningness (11%). A significant association between eveningness and LBP was observed. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with eveningness had a higher prevalence of LBP than those with morningness (36.2% vs. 28.7%; odds ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.83).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Eveningness was statistically associated with LBP in a cohort of public servants. The present findings would strengthen the association's generalizability to more varied populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Spine Journal","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09048-9","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is a common occupational health problem. Chronotype, an individual's preferred timing of activity and sleep, has been linked to pain perception. Previous studies have found a potential association between chronotype and LBP, although the findings were limited by small sample sizes and restricted population types. We investigated the association between evening chronotype (eveningness) and LBP in a cohort comprising public servants of various ages.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 4728 full-time public servants in Japan. LBP was assessed using a self-reported question. Individuals' chronotypes were determined using the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. The association between chronotype and LBP was analyzed using the chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, occupation, overtime work, use of the internet/email, body mass index, smoking status, exercise habits, sedentary behavior, sleep duration, sleep medication use, and depressive symptoms.
Results: In total, 30% of the subjects reported LBP. The most common chronotype was intermediate type (51%), followed by morningness (38%) and eveningness (11%). A significant association between eveningness and LBP was observed. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with eveningness had a higher prevalence of LBP than those with morningness (36.2% vs. 28.7%; odds ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.83).
Conclusion: Eveningness was statistically associated with LBP in a cohort of public servants. The present findings would strengthen the association's generalizability to more varied populations.
期刊介绍:
"European Spine Journal" is a publication founded in response to the increasing trend toward specialization in spinal surgery and spinal pathology in general. The Journal is devoted to all spine related disciplines, including functional and surgical anatomy of the spine, biomechanics and pathophysiology, diagnostic procedures, and neurology, surgery and outcomes. The aim of "European Spine Journal" is to support the further development of highly innovative spine treatments including but not restricted to surgery and to provide an integrated and balanced view of diagnostic, research and treatment procedures as well as outcomes that will enhance effective collaboration among specialists worldwide. The “European Spine Journal” also participates in education by means of videos, interactive meetings and the endorsement of educative efforts.
Official publication of EUROSPINE, The Spine Society of Europe