Prevalence and predictors of neck pain among Bangladeshi community dwellers during COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of a matched case-control data

Extant literature has established a significant association between COVID-19 and musculoskeletal health complaints. Despite this, there remains a paucity of data regarding the relationship between COVID-19 and neck pain among community-dwelling individuals. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence and predictors of neck pain in this population in Bangladesh. This was achieved via screening the musculoskeletal health of post-acute COVID-19 survivors and their age and sex-matched unaffected counterparts. METHODS: This study employs a case-control design and includes 878 Bangladeshi individuals aged 18 years or older, of which 439 were post-acute COVID-19 patients. Data were collected between 24 February and 7 April 2022. Neck pain was assessed using the musculoskeletal subscale of subjective health complaints. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence of neck pain and to compare its prevalence across subgroups. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the predictors of neck pain. RESULTS: Out of 878 participants, 15.1% reported experiencing neck pain. However, neck pain was significantly higher among those with post-acute COVID-19 than those without the infection (21.4% vs. 8.9%, P<0.001). An adjusted analysis found that COVID-19 infection was independently associated with neck pain (adjusted odds ratio=2.626%, 95% CI=1.666–4.140). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest a link between COVID-19 and neck pain. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare service providers are prepared to manage the increased incidence of neck pain among patients who have recovered from COVID-19.