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Prognosis for patients with chronic low back pain: inception cohort study
British Medical Journal, 10/09/09

Costa L da CM et al. – More than one third of patients with recent onset, non–radicular chronic low back pain recover within 12 months. The prognosis is less favourable for those who have taken previous sick leave for low back pain, have high disability levels or high pain intensity at onset of chronic low back pain, have lower education, perceive themselves as having a high risk of persistent pain, and were born outside Australia.

Methods

Inception cohort study with one year follow–up.
The study sample was a subcohort of an inception cohort of 973 consecutive patients presenting to primary care with acute low back pain (<2 weeks’ duration).
406 participants whose pain persisted for three months formed the inception cohort of patients with chronic low back pain.

Results

Completeness of follow–up was 97% of total person time for all outcomes.
The cumulative probability of being pain–free was 35% at nine months and 42% at 12 months and for complete recovery was 35% at nine months and 41% at 12 months.
Of the 259 participants who had not recovered from pain related disability at entry to the chronic study, 47% had recovered by 12 months.
Previous sick leave due to low back pain, high disability levels or high pain intensity at onset of chronicity, low levels of education, greater perceived risk of persistent pain, and being born outside Australia were associated with delayed recovery.

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