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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Prevalence and risk factors of disk-related sciatica in an urban population in Tunisia
Joint Bone Spine, Volume 73, No. 5, Year 2006
Notification
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Description
Background: Disk-related sciatica (DRS) creates a public health burden because of its high incidence and considerable socioeconomic costs. We are not aware of previous epidemiological studies of the prevalence and risk factors of DRS in Tunisia or other Arab countries, and few studies have addressed these issues elsewhere. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and incidence of DRS in Monastir, Tunisia; to look for risk factors; and to evaluate socioeconomic costs. Methods: Data on a cross-section of 5000 individuals aged 15 years or older living in Monastir were collected by interviewers using a previously developed 51-item questionnaire. Results: The study participation rate was 87.6%. The annual prevalence of DRS was 2.21% and the incidence was 1.44%. Among the patients with DRS, 94.8% received healthcare interventions, 64% had plain radiographs taken, and 45.4% underwent computed tomography of the lumbar spine. Sick leaves were given to 77.7% of patients, and mean sick leave duration was 9 weeks. A change in job was required in 5.5% of cases. Factors associated with DRS included male gender (P < 0.001), obesity (P < 0.0001), smoking (P < 0.0001), a history of low back problems (P < 0.0001), anxiety and depression (P < 0.0001), a job requiring prolonged standing and bending forward (P < 0.03), heavy manual labor (P < 0.005), heavy lifting (P < 0.0001), and exposure to vibrations (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of DRS in Monastir is 2.2%. We identified a number of patient- and occupation-related risk factors. The high socioeconomic cost should encourage preventive measures. © 2006.
Authors & Co-Authors
Younes, Mohamed K.
Tunisia, Monastir
Service de Rhumatologie
Béjia, Ismail
Tunisia, Monastir
Service de Rhumatologie
Aguir, Zouhour
Tunisia, Monastir
Service de Rhumatologie
Letaief, Mondher
Tunisia, Monastir
Faculté de Médecine de Monastir
Hassen-Zrour, Saoussen
Tunisia, Monastir
Service de Rhumatologie
Touzi, Mongi
Tunisia, Monastir
Service de Rhumatologie
Bergaoui, Naceur
Tunisia, Monastir
Service de Rhumatologie
Statistics
Citations: 128
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jbspin.2005.10.022
ISSN:
1297319X
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Mental Health
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Tunisia
Participants Gender
Male