Musculoskeletal pain in the community

Authors

• Abdurhman S. Al-Arfaj, PO Box 34471, Riyadh 11468, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fax. +966 (1) 4672573. E-mail: asarfaj{at}ksu.edu.sa
• Suliman R. Alballa, Department of Medicine and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Abdullah N. Al-Dalaan, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Salman S. Al-Saleh, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Mohammed A. Al-Sekeit, Department of Medicine and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Sultan A. Bahabri, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Mohammed A. Mousa, Department of Medicine, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in Al-Qaseem province in central Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Over a period of 18 months extending from September 1993 through to the end of February 1995, a house-to-house survey was conducted in Al-Qaseem province and included 5,894 adults asking regarding musculoskeletal pain. RESULTS: We obtained a response from 5,823 (98.8%), 2,667 (45.8%) men, and 3,156 (54.2%) women. The mean age was 34.14 +/= 15.16 years. Musculoskeletal pain was reported by 1,477 (25.4%), 762 (13.1%) men and 715 (12.3%) women. Musculoskeletal pain was significantly correlated with age (r =0.454), married status (r=0.238), unemployment (r=0.122), lower educational attainment (r=0.347), frequent attendance at local doctor (r=0.703), consumption of medications for pain (r =0.551), and change in ability to work (r=0.492). We found no association with sex or body mass index. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain, although common in the community, is less prevalent than reported from Western countries, but has similar socio-medical consequences.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

863

Last Page

867

Recommended Citation

Al-Arfaj, Abdurhman S.; Alballa, Suliman R.; Al-Dalaan, Abdullah N.; Al-Saleh, Salman S.; Al-Sekeit, Mohammed A.; Bahabri, Sultan A.; and Mousa, Mohammed A. (2003) "Musculoskeletal pain in the community," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 24: Iss. 8, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.2130