Gender Differences in Low Back Pain and Self-Reported Muscle Strengthening Activity Among U.S. Adults

Objectives: We sought to examine the gender differences between low back pain (LBP) and muscle strengthening activity (MSA) in U.S. adults (≥20 years of age). Background: Low back pain is a well-known medical condition that has been shown to impact quality of life and professional productivity. It also adds to the financial burden of our healthcare system by augmenting medical treatment costs. Muscle strengthening activity is a recognized method to prevent and treat LBP. Studies analyzing the relationship between MSA and LBP by gender have produced mixed results. Methods: The sample (n=12,721) included participants in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Three categories of reported MSA participation were created: no MSA (referent group), some MSA (≥1 to/wk), and meeting the 2008 Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommendation (\u3e2 d/wk). The dependent variable was LBP. Results: Gender stratified analysis revealed significantly lower odds ratio of reporting LBP for women (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.70-0.96, P=0.03) and men (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.70-0.96, P=0.01) reporting volumes of MSA meeting the DHHS recommendation. Following adjustment for smoking, the odds ratio remained significant in women (P=0.03) but not in men (P=0.21). Conclusions: Men and women reporting volumes of MSA meeting the current DHHS recommendation were found to have lower odds of reporting LBP when compared to those reporting no MSA prior to adjustment for smoking. After adjustment for smoking, the association between MSA and LBP continued to be significant in females but in males. These findings suggest that smoking may be an important mediating factor that should be considered in LBP research

Associations between Low Back Pain and Muscle-strengthening Activity in U.S. Adults

Study Design. This was a cross-sectional study. Objective. The primary aim of the study was to examine the association between low back pain (LBP) and muscle-strengthening activity (MSA) among U.S. adults using gender-stratified analyses. Summary of Background Data. LBP is a common medical condition that impacts quality of life and professional productivity and increases the financial burden on the health care system by augmenting medical treatment costs. Previous studies analyzing gender-dependent relationships between MSA and LBP have produced mixed results. Methods. Our sample included 12,721 participants from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Participants were categorized into one of three levels of self-reported MSA: no MSA, insufficient MSA (1 day/wk), or meeting the 2008 Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommendation for MSA (≥2 days/wk). Results. Gender-stratified analyses revealed significantly lower odds of reporting LBP among women [odds ratio (OR) 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-0.96, P=0.03] and men (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.70-0.96, P=0.01) who reported amounts of MSA that met the DHHS recommendation compared with those reporting no MSA. Following adjustment for smoking status, the odds remained significant among women (P=0.03) but not among men (P=0.21). Conclusion. These findings indicate that engaging in MSA at least 2 days/wk is associated with lower odds of LBP and that smoking may be an important mediating factor that should be considered in future LBP research

Association between alcohol consumption patterns and metabolic syndrome

Aims Examine associations between self-reported alcohol consumption patterns and metabolic syndrome. Materials and methods Sample (N = 7432) included adult (20 years) participants in the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results Above moderate alcohol consumption (AMAC) was negatively associated with waist circumference among those in the 20-29, 40-49, and 70-79 age groups (β = -6.21, β = -8.34, and β = -6.60, respectively) and moderate alcohol consumption (MAC) was negatively associated with waist circumference among those in the 30-39, 40-49, and 70-79 age groups (β = -4.60, β = -5.69, and β = -2.88, respectively). AMAC was negatively associated with triglycerides among those in the 70-79 and 80+ age groups (β = -23.62 and β = -34.18, respectively) and positively associated with HDL-C levels in all groups (β range 8.96-18.25). MAC was positively associated with HDL-C in the age groups spanning 20-69 years (β range 3.05-5.34) and those over 80 (β = 5.26). AMAC and MAC were negatively associated with fasting glucose levels in the 20-29 and 70-79 age groups (β = -3.38 and -15.61, respectively). MAC was negatively associated with fasting glucose levels among those 70-79 and those over 80 years of age (β = -7.06 and β = -5.00, respectively). Conclusion MAC and AMAC may favorably impact metabolic health. © 2014 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved