Content » Vol 23, Issue 1

Social factors and outcome in a five-year follow-up study of 276 patients with sciatica

Nykvist F, Hurme M, Alaranta H, Miettinen ML
Rehabilitation Research Centre, Social Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland
DOI: 10.2340/1650197791231926

Abstract

Social factors of 179 operated and 97 non-operated patients one year after hospitalization due to low back pain and sciatica were tested by multi-variate regression analysis in relation to the five-year outcome evaluated according to the WHO Handicap Classification. For operated men a subjective working incapacity (relative risk RR = 4. 6) and co-morbidity (RR = 2. 7) predicted a poor outcome. For operated women the predictive factors were subjective working incapacity (RR = 3. 2) and older age (RR = 1. 9). For non-operated men an increased occurrence of occupational hazards (RR = 3. 6) and for non-operated women co-morbidity (RR = 7. 1) indicated a poor outcome

Lay Abstract

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