Back pain may mean you are heading for an early death

PEOPLE who suffer from back and neck pain in old age have a greater chance of early death, a study has found.

Research involving nearly 4,400 people over 70 revealed that those with spinal pain were 13 per cent more likely to die each year. Back pain affects four out of five Britons at some point and costs the nation £4.8 billion a year in medical treatment, drugs, benefits and lost productivity.

However, few studies have examined the potential reduced life expectancy associated with spinal pain in an ageing population.

The Sydney University scientists behind the findings said they did not know whether or how back pain caused early death. But previous research has suggested that chronic pain can wear down people’s immune systems and make them more vulnerable to disease.

“This is a significant finding as many people think that back pain is not lifethreatening,” said lead author Dr Matthew Fernandez. “These findings warrant further investigation because, while there is a clear link between back pain and mortality, we don’t know yet why this is so.” Colleagues at Sydney University recently published research indicating that common painkillers make hardly any difference to chronic back pain. UK health chiefs still advise GPs consider prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, however medical opinion is moving towards advising exercise as the solution for persistent back pain.

Dr Fernandez said: “With a rapidly growing ageing population, spinal health is critical in maintaining older age independence.” He added: “Back pain should be recognised as an important co-morbidity that is likely to impact people’s longevity and quality of life.”

The study was published in the European Journal of Pain.

Back pain is often caused by a simple muscle, tendon or ligament strain and, according to the NHS, for most people it improves within a few weeks or months.

‘With a rapidly growing ageing population, spinal health is critical in maintaining older age’