Low Back Pain and Subsequent Cardiovascular Mortality

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Abstract
This was a prospective cohort study based on data of the Mini-Finland Health Examination Survey collected between 1978 and 1980, with follow-up until the end of 1991.A number of studies have revealed associations between smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and low back pain. Therefore, it has been suggested that atherosclerosis could be involved in the etiology of low back pain. Low back pain was studied for its prediction of mortality and, in particular, deaths from cardiovascular disease.Of a nationally representative sample of 8000 people older than 29 years, 7217 (90%) participated in a comprehensive health examination. At interviews, 5459 (76%) had a history of low back pain. In a standardized clinical examination, 1253 (17%) were diagnosed as having chronic low back pain.The follow-up information on mortality and causes of death was obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Finland.By the end of 1991, 1487 of the examinees had died, 815 from any cardiovascular disease and 501 from coronary heart disease. Neither the history of back complaints nor chronic low back pain predicted mortality.That low back pain does not affect longevity disagrees with the hypothesis that atherosclerosis resulting in death from cardiovascular disease is etiologically linked to low back pain.

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