The annual incidence and course of neck pain in the general population: a population-based cohort study
- PMID: 15561381
- DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2004.09.004
The annual incidence and course of neck pain in the general population: a population-based cohort study
Abstract
Although neck pain is a common source of disability, little is known about its incidence and course. We conducted a population-based cohort study of 1100 randomly selected Saskatchewan adults to determine the annual incidence of neck pain and describe its course. Subjects were initially surveyed by mail in September 1995 and followed-up 6 and 12 months later. The age and gender standardized annual incidence of neck pain is 14.6% (95% confidence interval: 11.3, 17.9). Each year, 0.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.0-1.1) of the population develops disabling neck pain. The annual rate of resolution of neck pain is 36.6% (95% confidence interval: 32.7, 40.5) and another 32.7% (95% confidence interval: 25.5, 39.9) report improvement. Among subjects with prevalent neck pain at baseline, 37.3% (95% confidence interval: 33.4, 41.2) report persistent problems and 9.9% (95% confidence interval: 7.4, 12.5) experience an aggravation during follow-up. Finally, 22.8% (95% confidence interval: 16.4, 29.3) of those with prevalent neck pain at baseline report a recurrent episode. Women are more likely than men to develop neck pain (incidence rate ratio=1.67, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.60); more likely to suffer from persistent neck problems (incidence rate ratio=1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.38) and less likely to experience resolution (incidence rate ratio=0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.63-0.88). Neck pain is a disabling condition with a course marked by periods of remission and exacerbation. Contrary to prior belief, most individuals with neck pain do not experience complete resolution of their symptoms and disability.
Similar articles
-
The Saskatchewan Health and Back Pain Survey. The prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults.Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1998 Aug 1;23(15):1689-98. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199808010-00015. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1998. PMID: 9704377
-
Is neck pain associated with worse health-related quality of life 6 months later? A population-based cohort study.Spine J. 2015 Apr 1;15(4):675-84. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2014.12.009. Epub 2014 Dec 11. Spine J. 2015. PMID: 25499207
-
The association between a lifetime history of a work-related neck injury and future neck pain: a population based cohort study.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011 Jul-Aug;34(6):348-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.06.006. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011. PMID: 21807257
-
The influence of psychosocial factors on recovery following acute whiplash trauma.Dan Med J. 2012 Dec;59(12):B4560. Dan Med J. 2012. PMID: 23290295 Review.
-
The epidemiology of neck pain.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2010 Dec;24(6):783-92. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2011.01.019. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2010. PMID: 21665126 Review.
Cited by
-
Effect of blood flow restriction training on pressure pain threshold and hand function among adults with persistent neck pain: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.F1000Res. 2024 May 31;12:1076. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.140084.2. eCollection 2023. F1000Res. 2024. PMID: 38863501 Free PMC article.
-
Investigating the Effect of Addition of Cervical Proprioceptive Training to Conventional Physiotherapy on Visual, Vestibular and Proprioceptive Dependency of Postural Control in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2024;12(1):36-50. doi: 10.22038/ABJS.2023.74763.3462. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2024. PMID: 38318308 Free PMC article.
-
Assessment of Long-term Effects of Adding Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment to Neck Exercises for Individuals With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial.J Chiropr Med. 2023 Dec;22(4):265-274. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2023.10.003. Epub 2023 Nov 18. J Chiropr Med. 2023. PMID: 38205221 Free PMC article.
-
Simplified Chinese version of the core outcome measures index (COMI) for patients with neck pain: cross-cultural adaptation and validation.Eur Spine J. 2024 Feb;33(2):386-393. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-08088-3. Epub 2024 Jan 5. Eur Spine J. 2024. PMID: 38180515
-
Intramuscular paravertebral oxygen-ozone therapy for chronic neck pain and low back pain: evaluation of 6-month clinical outcomes.Med Gas Res. 2024 Jan-Mar;14(1):6-11. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.374388. Med Gas Res. 2024. PMID: 37721249 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Binder A. Neck pain. Clin Evid. 2003;9:1277-1291.
-
- Bovim G, Schrader H, Sand T. Neck pain in the general population. Spine. 1994;19:1307-1309.
-
- Boyd JH, Weissman MM, Thompson WD, Myers JK. Screening for depression in a community sample. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1982;39:1195-1200.
-
- Brazier JE, Harper R, Jones NMB, O'Cathain A, Thomas KJ, Usherwood T, Westlake L. Validating the SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire: new outcome measure for primary care. Br Med J. 1992;305:160-164.
-
- Carroll LJ, Cassidy JD, Côté P. The Saskatchewan Health and Back Pain Survey: the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptomatology in Saskatchewan adults. Can J Public Health. 2000;91:459-464.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical