Low back pain, work absenteeism, chronic back disorders, and clinical findings in the low back as predictors of hospitalization due to low back disorders: a 28-year follow-up of industrial employees.

Study Design. Prospective cohort study. Objective. To study symptoms, chronic disorders, and clinical findings in the low back, and work absenteeism, as predictors of hospitalization. Summary of Background Data. Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors are associated with back-related hospitalization, but the significance in the working normal population of low back symptoms and clinical findings are not known. Methods. The cohort (n = 902) was drawn in 1973 from among employees in the metal industry (n = 2,653). The data were collected by questionnaire and a structured clinical assessment by a physiotherapist. Weight was measured. A sum score of local and radiating low back symptoms (frequency …