Incidence of low back pain and potential risk factors among pharmacists: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in pharmacists. This can impede the physical functions of the body and lead to incapacitation, resulting in significant social and economic burden. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors that correlate with LBP in Taiwanese pharmacists. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among all registered pharmacists aged 20 to 40 years using the National Health Insurance Research Database (2000–2013) in Taiwan. The LBP diagnosis was confirmed with one episode of hospitalization or at least three claimed outpatient visits for LBP. Data on workplace characteristics as well as comorbidities were also collected for the analyses. A Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate the risk factors for LBP. The incidence rate of LBP among pharmacists was 16.60% in this study. Older pharmacists (28.49%; P < .01) and those who worked at district hospitals (23.51%; P < .01) showed a higher proportion of LBP. Furthermore, after adjustment for selected potential confounding factors, female pharmacists [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.12, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01–1.24, P = .0354] and pharmacists with diabetes (aHR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.20–2.01; P = .0008) and gout (aHR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.37–2.09; P < .0001) had significantly higher risks of LBP. In conclusion, age was positively correlated with LBP, and the workplace was an important factor in the development of LBP in pharmacists. We suggest that pharmacists who work in district hospitals should pay more attention to the development of LBP.