RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Musculoskeletal pain in the community
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 863
OP 867
VO 24
IS 8
A1 Al-Arfaj, Abdurhman S.
A1 Alballa, Suliman R.
A1 Al-Dalaan, Abdullah N.
A1 Al-Saleh, Salman S.
A1 Al-Sekeit, Mohammed A.
A1 Bahabri, Sultan A.
A1 Mousa, Mohammed A.
YR 2003
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/24/8/863.abstract
AB 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.