Measuring the Prevalence and Incidence of Low Back Pain Disorders among American Workers in the Aerospace and Defense Industry

Ron Z. Goetzel, Malinda D'Arco, Jordana Thomas, Degang Wang, Maryam J. Tabrizi, Enid Chung Roemer, Aishwarya Prasad, Charles M. Yarborough

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

To determine the prevalence and incidence of low back pain (LBP) among workers in the aerospace and defense industry and in a specific company. Methods: Claims and demographic data from the Truven Health MarketScan normative database representing more than 1 million workers were drawn from a group of 18 US benchmark companies and compared with one particular company, Lockheed Martin Corporation. Results: The prevalence of LBP in the MarketScan normative group was 15.6% in the final study year (2012), whereas the incidence of new cases was 7.2% and 7.3% in years 2011 and 2012, respectively. Compared with the normative group, the company's prevalence and incidence rates were lower. Women and older workers were more likely to experience LBP compared with men and younger workers. Conclusions: The analysis was used to inform the company's leadership about the health burden of the condition and evaluate alternative treatment options to prevent the incidences and reduce the prevalence of clinical back pain among workers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)998-1003
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of occupational and environmental medicine
Volume57
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Measuring the Prevalence and Incidence of Low Back Pain Disorders among American Workers in the Aerospace and Defense Industry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this