ArticleBMJ open2022
Does the risk of chronic low back pain depend on age at menarche or menopause? A population-based cross-sectional and cohort study: the Trøndelag Health Study.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of Menopause and Associated Hormonal Changes on Spine Health in Older Females: A Review.Cells · 2026Review
- A Longitudinal Study of Coping Strategies and Differences by Sex in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Comprehensive Analysis of Modifiable Global Risk Factors for Low Back Pain.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- The association between age at menarche and subsequent risk of chronic pain.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Review
- Chronic pain prevalence and severity in females before & after menopause versus males in a large multi-center database.Pain management · 2025Observational
- Article
- The mediating role of depressive symptoms among Turkish population related to gender and low back pain: evidence from a national health survey.BMC public health · 2024Article
- The burden, trends, and projections of low back pain attributable to high body mass index globally: an analysis of the global burden of disease study from 1990 to 2021 and projections to 2050.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
- A causal examination of the correlation between hormonal and reproductive factors and low back pain.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Article
- Menopausal hormone therapy, oral contraceptives and risk of chronic low back pain: the HUNT Study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Article
- Are the Previously Reported Risk Factors for Endometriosis Actually Associated With Pain and Infertility Rather Than Endometriosis Itself?Reproductive medicine and biologyReview
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveIn most population-based studies of low back pain (LBP), women have a higher risk than men, possibly reflecting hormonal influences. The aim of this study was to explore associations between age at menarche and menopause and risk of chronic LBP.
designPopulation-based cross-sectional and cohort study designs.
settingThe HUNT2 and HUNT3 medical surveys of the entire population of Nord-Trøndelag County in Norway.
main outcome measurePrevalence or risk of chronic LBP, defined as LBP persisting at least 3 months continuously during last year.
participantsAssociations between age at menarche and prevalence of chronic LBP were examined in cross-sectional data from HUNT2, comprising 27 697 women aged 20-69 years, with 7300 women reporting LBP. The corresponding cohort data included 11 659 women without LBP at baseline in HUNT2, with 2353 women reporting LBP at follow-up 11 years later in HUNT3. Cross-sectional data on age at menopause or premenopausal status included 11 332 women aged 40-69 years, with 3439 women reporting chronic LBP. Corresponding cohort data included 7893 women without LBP at baseline, of whom 1100 developed LBP.
methodsAssociations between age at menarche or menopause and risk of chronic LBP were examined by generalised linear modelling.
resultsA U-shaped association was indicated between age at menarche and risk of chronic LBP, both in the cross-sectional and cohort studies. Age at menarche ≤11 years was associated with an increased risk of chronic LBP, with a relative risk of 1.32 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.52), compared with age 14 years at menarche, after relevant adjustments. Corresponding cross-sectional crude absolute risks were 32% and 25%, respectively. No association was established between age at menopause and risk of LBP. Being premenopausal had no influence on risk.
conclusionsIn contrast to results for age at menopause, the association with age at menarche suggests that hormonal factors affect the risk of LBP.
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