Three in Every 10 School-aged Children in Brazil Report Back Pain in Any Given Year: 12-Month Prospective Cohort Study of Prevalence, Incidence, and Prognosis

Comparing the measurement properties of the EQ-5D-Y-3L, EQ-5D-Y-5L and CHU9D in children and adolescents: a measurement property study

BACKGROUND

The EQ-5D-Y-3L, EQ-5D-Y-5L and Child Health Utility 9-dimension (CHU9D) are instruments that measures health-related quality of life. These instruments are widely used in children and adolescents with health conditions, however the measurement properties of the three instruments have not been tested in Brazilian children.

OBJECTIVE

To compare and test the measurement properties of the EQ-5D-Y-3L, EQ-5D-Y-5L and CHU9D in Brazilian children and adolescents with and without any self-reported musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS

Children and adolescents aged 8-18 years were recruited from schools in Sao Paulo, Brazil and, self-completed the EQ-5D-Y-3L, EQ-5D-Y-5L and CHU9D at baseline and after 7 days. Reliability was determined by Kappa for the dimensions and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). Hypothesis were developed for construct validity and tested with Spearman and Pearson correlations (adequate if > 75% of the hypotheses confirmed). Children and adolescents with and without musculoskeletal pain were compared for known-group validity.

RESULTS

We included 356 children and adolescents, with 51% (n = 181) reporting musculoskeletal pain. Majority were male (53%) and mean age of 11.5 years (SD: 2.9). The EQ-5D-Y-3L, EQ-5D-Y-5L and CHU9D ranged from poor to moderate reliability. Reliability of the EQ VAS was substantial (ICC: 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72 to 0.87) to moderate (ICC: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.53) for those with musculoskeletal pain and without pain, respectively. In those with musculoskeletal pain the association was weak to moderate, with > 75% of hypotheses confirmed, when comparing EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-D-Y-5L with the PedsQL™ and comparing EQ-5D-Y-5L with CHU9D. All instruments were able to discriminate those with and without musculoskeletal pain.

CONCLUSION

All instruments had better measurement properties in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain, compared to those without for reliability and construct validity. These instruments could be used to assess health-related quality of life in Brazilian children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain.

Does sedentary behaviour cause spinal pain in children and adolescents? A systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether sedentary behaviour is a risk or prognostic factor for spinal pain in children and adolescents. Specifically, to estimate the (1) direction and strength of the association; (2) risk of spinal pain onset and (3) effect on spinal pain prognosis.

DESIGN

Systematic review with meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science up to 23 March 2023.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Reports estimating the effect of sedentary behaviour on spinal pain in young people (≤19 years).

RESULTS

We included 129 reports, 14 were longitudinal (n = 8 433) and 115 were cross-sectional (n > 697 590). We incorporated 86 studies into meta-analyses. (1) From cross-sectional data, we found low certainty evidence of a small positive association between sedentary behaviour and spinal pain (adjusted odds ratio 1.25 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.33), k = 44, n > 92 617). (2) From longitudinal data, we found low certainty evidence of no increased risk for the onset of spinal pain due to sedentary behaviour (adjusted risk ratio 1.07 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.35), k = 4, n = 1 292). (3) No studies assessed prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Cross-sectional data suggest minimally higher odds of spinal pain for children and adolescents who engage in greater sedentary behaviours. However, longitudinal data do not support a causal relationship, indicating that sedentary behaviour does not increase the risk for onset of spinal pain. Due to the low certainty of evidence, these findings must be interpreted with caution. We found no evidence of the effect sedentary behaviour has on spinal pain prognosis in children and adolescents, highlighting a considerable gap in the literature.

Prevalence of low back pain in Nepal: Results from a nationally representative WHO STEPS survey

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability globally. Most prevalence data for low back pain come from high-income countries. Data from low-and middle-income countries such as Nepal are currently lacking. This study aimed to estimate one-month prevalence of low back pain in Nepal using a nationally representative sample and present the prevalence estimates by socio-demographic characteristics. We used national population-based survey data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) STEPwise Approach to Non-communicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS) survey conducted in Nepal from February to May 2019 with people aged 15 to 69 years. We reported the age-standardised low back pain prevalence (95% CI). We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression to assess the associations between sociodemographic variables and the presence of low back pain and results were presented as odds ratios. A total of 5593 people aged 15 to 69 years participated in the survey. The response rate was 86.4%. The age-standardised prevalence of activity limiting low back pain was 23.2% (95% CI: 21.9% to 24.5%). Older people were more likely to have low back pain than younger people. For example, people aged 55-69 years had over 4 times higher odds of having low back pain than people aged 15-24 years [odds ratio: 4.06 (95%CI= 2.57 to 6.42)]. Females had 1.74 times higher odds of having low back pain than males [odds ratio: 1.74 (95%CI= 1.45 to 2.09)]. The results of our study show that a quarter of adults are affected by low back pain in Nepal; with women and older people more likely to experience low back pain. PERSPECTIVE: This study shows that a quarter of adults are affected by low back pain in Nepal. Women and older people are more likely to experience back pain in Nepal.

Rehabilitation of back pain in the pediatric population: a mixed studies systematic review

BACKGROUND

A significant proportion of children and adolescents experience back pain. However, a comprehensive systematic review on the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate benefits and harms of rehabilitation interventions for non-specific low back pain (LBP) or thoracic spine pain in the pediatric population.

METHODS

Seven bibliographic electronic databases were searched from inception to June 16, 2023. Moreover, reference lists of relevant studies and systematic reviews, three targeted websites, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched. Paired reviewers independently conducted screening, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data related to study characteristics, methodology, subjects, and results. Certainty of evidence was evaluated based on the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

We screened 8461 citations and 307 full-text articles. Ten quantitative studies (i.e., 8 RCTs, 2 non-randomized clinical trials) and one qualitative study were included. With very low to moderate certainty evidence, in adolescents with LBP, spinal manipulation (1-2 sessions/week over 12 weeks, 1 RCT) plus exercise may be associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing clinically important pain reduction versus exercise alone; and group-based exercise over 8 weeks (2 RCTs and 1 non-randomized trial) may reduce pain intensity. The qualitative study found information provided via education/advice and compliance of treatment were related to effective treatment. No economic studies or studies examining thoracic spine pain were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal manipulation and group-based exercise may be beneficial in reducing LBP intensity in adolescents. Education should be provided as part of a care program. The overall evidence is sparse. Methodologically rigorous studies are needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CRD42019135009 (PROSPERO).

Evaluation of methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews on conservative non-pharmacological musculoskeletal pain management in children and adolescents: A methodological analysis

BACKGROUND

There are no studies investigating the methodological and report quality of systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions for musculoskeletal pain management among children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews on conservative non-pharmacological pain management in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS

Searches were conducted on the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Medline, Embase, and three other databases. Two pairs of reviewers independently assessed each article according to the predetermined selection criteria. We assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews, using the AMSTAR 2 checklist and the quality of reporting, using PRISMA checklist. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise the characteristics of all included systematic reviews. The percentage of systematic reviews achieving each item from the AMSTAR 2, PRISMA checklist and the overall confidence in the results were described.

RESULTS

We included 17 systematic reviews of conservative non-pharmacological pain management for musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents. Of the 17 systematic reviews included, nine (53%) were rated as "critically low", seven (41%) were rated as "low", and one (6%) was rated as "high" methodological quality by AMSTAR-2. The reporting quality by items from PRISMA range from 17.6% (95% CI 6.2 to 41) to 100% (95% CI 81.6 to 100).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review of physical interventions in children and adolescents showed overall 'very low' to 'high' methodological quality and usually poor reporting quality.