Lifestyle Behaviours and Future Healthcare Utilisation for Musculoskeletal Pain in Young Adults: A Cohort Study of Norwegian University Students With Three-Year Follow-Up

IF 3.4 2区医学 Q1 ANESTHESIOLOGY

European Journal of Pain Pub Date : 2025-07-30 DOI:10.1002/ejp.70087

Kaja Smedbråten, Margreth Grotle, Milada Hagen, Børge Sivertsen, Henriette Jahre, Kåre Rønn Richardsen, George Peat, Eva Skillgate, Britt Elin Øiestad

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Abstract

Background

It is unclear whether lifestyle behaviours influence use of healthcare for musculoskeletal pain in young adults. This study examined if lifestyle behaviours among college/university students were associated with future healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

Data from the Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT2018) were linked with the Norwegian Registry for Primary Health Care, comprising 31,358 college/university students. We analysed associations of physical activity level, sleep duration, alcohol consumption, smoking, illicit drug use and cumulative adverse lifestyle behaviours with healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain over the following three years, including ‘any use’, ‘high use’ and for back and neck pain specifically.

Results

High physical activity levels, compared to recommended levels, were associated with a higher risk of ‘any’ healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 1.14, 99% CI [1.04–1.25]; males: RR 1.20, 99% CI [1.07–1.36]); below recommended physical activity levels were associated with a lower risk (females: RR 0.90, 99% CI [0.85–0.96]; males: RR 0.84, 99% CI [0.76–0.93]). Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.77, 99% CI [0.62–0.97]). Four or more adverse lifestyle behaviours, compared to ≤ 1, were associated with a lower risk of high healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 0.66, 99% CI [0.48–0.90]; males: RR 0.68, 99% CI [0.48–0.97]) and a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.63, 99% CI [0.41–0.97]).

Conclusions

Associations between college/university students' lifestyle behaviours and healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain were identified, but with some unexpected patterns. Future research should explore long-term effects of these behaviours on healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.

Significance

High levels of physical activity among college and university students were associated with a greater risk of seeking healthcare for musculoskeletal pain within the following three years. Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of seeking healthcare for neck pain in females. Surprisingly, the presence of many adverse lifestyle behaviours appeared to be associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain, particularly healthcare contacts for neck pain in females and repeated healthcare contacts for musculoskeletal pain in general.

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年轻人肌肉骨骼疼痛的生活方式行为和未来医疗保健利用：一项为期三年随访的挪威大学生队列研究

目前尚不清楚生活方式行为是否影响年轻人肌肉骨骼疼痛的医疗保健使用。这项研究调查了大学生的生活方式行为是否与未来对肌肉骨骼疼痛的医疗保健利用有关。方法将学生健康与福祉研究（SHoT2018）的数据与挪威初级卫生保健登记处联系起来，其中包括31,358名学院/大学生。我们分析了身体活动水平、睡眠时间、饮酒、吸烟、非法药物使用和累积的不良生活方式行为在接下来的三年里与肌肉骨骼疼痛的医疗保健利用的关系，包括“任何使用”、“高使用”和背部和颈部疼痛。结果：与推荐水平相比，高体力活动水平与肌肉骨骼疼痛的“任何”医疗保健利用风险较高相关(女性：RR 1.14, 99% CI [1.04-1.25]；男性：RR 1.20, 99% CI [1.07-1.36])；低于推荐的体力活动水平与较低的风险相关(女性：RR 0.90, 99% CI [0.85-0.96]；男性：RR 0.84, 99% CI[0.76-0.93])。非法药物使用与女性因颈部疼痛而就医的风险较低相关（RR 0.77, 99% CI[0.62-0.97]）。与≤1的不良生活方式行为相比，4种或4种以上的不良生活方式行为与肌肉骨骼疼痛的高医疗保健利用率的风险较低相关(女性：RR 0.66, 99% CI [0.48-0.90]；男性：RR 0.68, 99% CI[0.48-0.97])，女性因颈部疼痛就诊的风险较低（RR 0.63, 99% CI[0.41-0.97]）。结论：大学生的生活方式行为与肌肉骨骼疼痛的医疗保健利用之间存在关联，但存在一些意想不到的模式。未来的研究应该探索这些行为对肌肉骨骼疼痛的医疗保健利用的长期影响。在大学生中，高水平的体育锻炼与在接下来的三年内因肌肉骨骼疼痛寻求医疗保健的风险增加有关。非法药物使用与女性因颈部疼痛寻求医疗保健的风险较低有关。令人惊讶的是，许多不良生活方式行为的存在似乎与肌肉骨骼疼痛的医疗保健利用风险较低有关，特别是女性颈部疼痛的医疗保健联系人和一般肌肉骨骼疼痛的反复医疗保健联系。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Pain 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

5.60%

发文量

163

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： European Journal of Pain (EJP) publishes clinical and basic science research papers relevant to all aspects of pain and its management, including specialties such as anaesthesia, dentistry, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, palliative care, pharmacology, physiology, psychiatry, psychology and rehabilitation; socio-economic aspects of pain are also covered. Regular sections in the journal are as follows: • Editorials and Commentaries • Position Papers and Guidelines • Reviews • Original Articles • Letters • Bookshelf The journal particularly welcomes clinical trials, which are published on an occasional basis. Research articles are published under the following subject headings: • Neurobiology • Neurology • Experimental Pharmacology • Clinical Pharmacology • Psychology • Behavioural Therapy • Epidemiology • Cancer Pain • Acute Pain • Clinical Trials.