ArticlePloS one2017
A prospective cohort study on risk factors of musculoskeletal complaints (pain and/or stiffness) in a general population. The Tromsø study.
Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Are children with obesity at school entry more likely to have a diagnosis of a musculoskeletal condition? Findings from a systematic review.BMJ paediatrics open · 2022Pooled it
- Longitudinal associations between BMI changes and musculoskeletal pain in older European males and females.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2026Article
- Addressing co-occurring chronic pain and obesity simultaneously in a behavioral intervention: a pilot trial.Pilot and feasibility studies · 2026Article
- Incidence and sociodemographic characteristics of coexisting function-limiting musculoskeletal problems and psychological distress among university students in Sweden: The SUN cohort study.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in self-rated health and mental distress during four decades in a Norwegian population: a HUNT Study.European journal of public health · 2024Article
- The role of lifestyle factors in the association between education and self-reported fibromyalgia: a mediation analysis.BMC women's health · 2024Article
- Fluctuation of functional somatic disorders in a population-based cohort. The DanFunD study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Lifestyle risk factors of self-reported fibromyalgia in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) study.BMC public health · 2023Article
- A widening gap between boys and girls in musculoskeletal complaints, while growing up from age 11 to age 20 - the PIAMA birth Cohort study.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2021Article
- Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in urban communities in multi-ethnic Suriname: a cross-sectional study with the COPCORD methodology (stage 1, phase 1 and 2).Clinical rheumatology · 2020Article
- Influence of reduction quality on functional outcome and quality of life in treatment of tibial plafond fractures: a retrospective cohort study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2019Article
- Working in a cold environment, feeling cold at work and chronic pain: a cross-sectional analysis of the Tromsø Study.BMJ open · 2019Article
- Do incident musculoskeletal complaints influence mortality? The Nord-Trøndelag Health study.PloS one · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFemale gender has been associated with musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs), but there are limited studies on how other factors may influence women and men differently. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to explore possible predictors of MSCs in women and men free of MSCs at baseline.
methodsThe present study included participants from the population-based Tromsø study, with baseline data from 1994-1995 and follow-up data from 2007-2008. MSCs were defined as having pain and/or stiffness in muscles and joints for 3 consecutive months during the past year. Predictors of MSCs were examined through binary logistic regression analyses and presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.
resultsAt baseline 4,496 participants reported no MSCs and among these 2,015 (44.8%) and 441 (9.8%) participants reported mild or severe MSCs, respectively, at follow-up. Female gender predicted MSCs in multivariable logistic regression analyses (odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.66). Educational level of primary/secondary school (OR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.46-2.05) was the strongest predictor of MSCs, followed by poor self-perceived health (OR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.30-2.02). Other predictors were BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (OR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10-1.77) and smoking (OR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.16-1.52). Age and physical activity level were not significantly associated with MSCs. Gender-stratified analyses revealed that mental health complaints (i.e., depression and/or anxiety) predicted MSCs in men (OR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.18-3.50), but not in women. Current smoking (OR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.16-1.76) and poor self-perceived health (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.34-2.71) showed slightly higher odds ratios among women than men, but the gender differences were not significant.
conclusionThe present study demonstrates that several negative health determinants are predicting subsequent MSCs. However, the examined risk factors could not explain the higher prevalence of MSCs in women.
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