Journal of Pain Research
Socio-Demographic Inequalities in the Burden of Low Back Pain Across Development Strata: Sex-Specific, Age-Standardized Trends in Prevalence, Incidence and Disability from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, 2003–2023
By Mohammed M. Alshehri, Mohammad Abu Shaphe, Rashid Ali Beg and 5 others.
Abstract
Background
Low back pain (LBP) is a leading contributor to non-fatal disability and rehabilitation needs worldwide. Monitoring trends across sociodemographic strata is important for understanding whether the disability burden is changing equitably across health systems.
Purpose
To examine temporal trends and socio-demographic inequalities in the burden of LBP across Socio-demographic Index (SDI) groups from 2003 to 2023 using Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 estimates.
Methods
GBD 2023 estimates for LBP prevalence, incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) were analysed across High, High-middle, Middle, Low-middle and Low SDI groups. Age-standardized rates, all-age numbers, percentage changes and estimated annual percentage changes were calculated. Sex-specific, age-specific and inequality analyses were conducted. The change in all-age YLDs was also partitioned approximately into demographic (population growth and ageing) and epidemiological (age-standardized rate) components.