Global burden of occupational ergonomic factor-induced low back pain, 1990~2021

Data analysis and projections of the global burden of disease

Bibliographic Data

ID22076552
AuthorsMeng Wu (0000-0001-8504-6398, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Peihong Wu (0000-0002-7992-7698, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Huaye Lu (Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Lei Han (0000-0001-8686-8940, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, corresponding author), Xin Liu (0000-0001-5207-1685, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume13
Pages1573828-1573828
Publication date2025-05-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1573828
PMID40496462
OpenAlexW4410792720
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited44

Background Low back pain (LBP) is a global epidemic that severely affects the quality of life and imposes a substantial economic burden worldwide. Occupational ergonomic factors are the most important modifiable contributors to LBP. In this study, we estimated the global burden of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP from 1990 to 2021 using the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 database and projected future trends. Methods Global years lived with disability (YLDs) and age-standardized YLD rate (ASYLDR) for occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP by sex and Socio-demographic index (SDI) among individuals aged 15–64 from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from the GBD 2021. Long-term trends were evaluated by calculating the average annual percent change (AAPC) of ASYLDR using a Joinpoint model. A Nordpred model was applied to analyze temporal changes in overall and age-specific YLDs and ASYLDR between 1990 and 2021, and to project trends from 2022 to 2045. Results From 1990 to 2021, global YLDs of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP increased by 40.63%. Projections indicated that all-age YLDs will exceed 15 million person-years by 2037. The ASYLDR of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP had shown a sustained decline since 1990, decreasing by 18.75% between 1990 and 2021, with an AAPC of −0.670% (95% confidence interval: −0.718 to −0.622). This downward trend is expected to persist until 2045. The SDI showed a negative correlation with ASYLDR ( R = −0.36, p < 0.001). YLDs and ASYLDR were consistently higher in females than in males. Conclusion While the disease burden of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP has decreased, the reduction remains modest. Females, low SDI regions, and middle-aged/older adults (40–64 years) are the main contributors to the disease burden. Occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP remains a critical public health problem that requires urgent attention to find global, comprehensive, effective, and targeted prevention strategies

Alternative medicine · Burden of disease · Disease · Disease burden · Environmental health · Low back pain · Occupational safety and health · Pathology · Poison control · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Occupational Health and Performance · Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology

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