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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Family Medicine and Primary Care
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1469298

The Burden, Trends, and Projections of Low Back Pain Attributable to High Body Mass Index Globally: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study from 1990-2021 and Projections to 2050

Provisionally accepted
Chuan Zhang Chuan Zhang 1Shanglin Zi Shanglin Zi 2*Quanzhen Chen Quanzhen Chen 1*Shuna Zhang Shuna Zhang 1*
  • 1 Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
  • 2 Hunang normal university, Changsha, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: To systematically evaluate the global burden and trends of low back pain(LBP) associated with high Body Mass Index (BMI) and project future trends up to 2050 using Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) model, providing scientific evidence for prioritizing global preventive actions. Methods: Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, this research analyzes the disease burden of low back pain linked to high BMI globally, with Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) as the primary metric. We examined trends by gender, age, and exposure rate using Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) and projected future trends with the BAPC model. Results: In 2021, high BMI-related low back pain accounted for 8,363,759 DALYs, with an age-standardized rate of 97.66 per 100,000 population and an EAPC of 1.14. The DALYs rate varied significantly by country, with the United States, Australia, and Eastern Europe experiencing the highest rates, all exceeding 225 per 100,000 population. The burden has increased globally, with notable rises in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa, where EAPCs surpassed 2.5. Regions with medium and high Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) showed the most substantial increases, with the DALY rate in high SDI areas rising from 118.84 to 161.80 per 100,000, and in medium SDI areas from 41.92 to 79.10 per 100,000. Throughout the period from 1990 to 2021, females consistently experienced a higher burden of high BMI-related low back pain than males, with their DALY rate increasing from 92.01 to 126.29 per 100,000. The impact of high BMI on low back pain intensified with age, peaking in the 70-74 age group at 294.13 per 100,000, and then declining to 196.43 per 100,000 in those aged 95 and above. The BAPC model projects that by 2050, the number of DALYs will reach 15,558,278, an increase of 7,806,121 from 2021. Conclusion: From 1990 to 2021, the global burden of low back pain attributable to high BMI has intensified, particularly affecting females, younger elderly, and developed regions. With increasing global aging and obesity rates, the burden is expected to continue rising rapidly without sustained and effective targeted interventions.

    Keywords: High BMI, Low Back Pain, GBD database, trend analysis, Disability-adjusted life years

    Received: 23 Jul 2024; Accepted: 08 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Zi, Chen and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Shanglin Zi, Hunang normal university, Changsha, China
    Quanzhen Chen, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
    Shuna Zhang, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.