Epidemiology of low back pain in a suburban Nigerian tertiary centre

Aims: This study aims to determine the profile of patients as well as identify predisposing factors of patients presenting with low back pain (LBP) in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua, Edo state of Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective study in which case records of all newly diagnosed patients with LBP from January 2011 to December 2013 were analyzed and the following data were extracted: demographic indices, duration of symptoms before presentation, predisposing factors, etc. Results: Within the study periods, 3120 patients presented at the orthopedic clinic, out of these, 101 patients had LBP. The prevalence rate was 3.24%. Median age was 58 years. Peak age incidence was 61–70 years. Age range 13–84 years. Male:female 1:1. Most affected occupational age groups were farmers 24 (23.76), traders 23 (22.77%), and civil servants 17 (16.83%). The most common predisposing factors to LBP were trauma to the lower back 23 (22.8%), lifting of heavy objects 11 (10.9%), and obesity 8 (7.9%). Spondylosis was the leading Diagnosis. L4/L5, L5/S1 were the most affected segments The percentage of patients presenting as acute, subacute, and chronic LBP were 28.7%, 9.9%, and 61.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Chronic LBP rank the highest among patients with LBP in our environment. Middle and elderly age brackets were other highlights. Trauma, lifting of heavy weights and obesity were notable predisposing factors.