The association between headache and low back pain: a systematic review
The association between headache and low back pain: a systematic review
Background: To systematically review studies quantifying the association between primary chronic headaches and persistent low back pain (LBP). Main text: We searched five electronic databases. We included case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies that included a headache and back pain free group, reporting on any association between persistent LBP and primary headache disorders. Methodological quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Our primary outcome was the association between primary headache disorders and persistent LBP. Our secondary outcomes were any associations between severity of LBP and severity of headache, and the relationship between specific headache sub-types classified as per International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria and persistent LBP. We included 14 studies. The sizes of the studies ranged from 88 participants to a large international study with 404, 206 participants. Odds ratios for the association were between 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-2.11) and 8.00 (95% CI 5.3-12.1). Study heterogeneity meant statistical pooling was not possible. Only two studies presented data investigating persistent LBP and chronic headache disorders in accordance with ICDH criteria. Conclusions: We identified a positive association between persistent LBP and primary headache disorders. The quality of the review findings is limited by diversity of populations, study designs and uncertainly about headache and LBP definitions. Trial registration: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018086557.
Chronic pain syndromes, Epidemiology, Persistent low back pain, Primary chronic headaches
1-13
Vivekanantham, Arani
38b7bb87-d656-4928-b4f2-9b81e224a22b
Edwin, Claire
d474a469-38a0-4591-9940-e6fa23e8d326
Pincus, Tamar
55388347-5d71-4fc0-9fd2-66fbba080e0c
Matharu, Manjit
fce89299-8b6c-403e-8835-565eecc61b8b
Parsons, Helen
fc9c1a09-9b5b-4c79-97fb-525119a116e9
Underwood, Martin
239a8609-e7b5-4acb-aaf9-9e7f717f0d62
15 July 2019
Vivekanantham, Arani
38b7bb87-d656-4928-b4f2-9b81e224a22b
Edwin, Claire
d474a469-38a0-4591-9940-e6fa23e8d326
Pincus, Tamar
55388347-5d71-4fc0-9fd2-66fbba080e0c
Matharu, Manjit
fce89299-8b6c-403e-8835-565eecc61b8b
Parsons, Helen
fc9c1a09-9b5b-4c79-97fb-525119a116e9
Underwood, Martin
239a8609-e7b5-4acb-aaf9-9e7f717f0d62
Vivekanantham, Arani, Edwin, Claire, Pincus, Tamar, Matharu, Manjit, Parsons, Helen and Underwood, Martin
(2019)
The association between headache and low back pain: a systematic review.
The Journal of Headache and Pain, 20, , [82].
(doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1031-y).
Abstract
Background: To systematically review studies quantifying the association between primary chronic headaches and persistent low back pain (LBP). Main text: We searched five electronic databases. We included case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies that included a headache and back pain free group, reporting on any association between persistent LBP and primary headache disorders. Methodological quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Our primary outcome was the association between primary headache disorders and persistent LBP. Our secondary outcomes were any associations between severity of LBP and severity of headache, and the relationship between specific headache sub-types classified as per International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria and persistent LBP. We included 14 studies. The sizes of the studies ranged from 88 participants to a large international study with 404, 206 participants. Odds ratios for the association were between 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-2.11) and 8.00 (95% CI 5.3-12.1). Study heterogeneity meant statistical pooling was not possible. Only two studies presented data investigating persistent LBP and chronic headache disorders in accordance with ICDH criteria. Conclusions: We identified a positive association between persistent LBP and primary headache disorders. The quality of the review findings is limited by diversity of populations, study designs and uncertainly about headache and LBP definitions. Trial registration: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018086557.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 15 July 2019
Additional Information:
M1 - 82
Copyright © 2019, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Chronic pain syndromes, Epidemiology, Persistent low back pain, Primary chronic headaches
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 469396
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/469396
ISSN: 1129-2369
PURE UUID: 3597d47a-cd2e-4b07-b55c-4329de4cd342
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 14 Sep 2022 16:42
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:11
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Arani Vivekanantham
Author:
Claire Edwin
Author:
Tamar Pincus
Author:
Manjit Matharu
Author:
Helen Parsons
Author:
Martin Underwood
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics