Prevalence of Back Pain and Neck Pain and Related Factors in Turkey

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 10 - 17, 30.06.2025

Kevser Sevik Kacmaz

Abstract

Purpose: Low back and neck pain have emerged as significant public health issues globally. Compared to other conditions, low back pain is the most common, while neck pain ranks as the fourth leading cause of disability. This study investigates the disease burden and associated risk factors for low back and neck pain in Turkey.
Methods: This study employed data on primary diseases and health issues reported by participants in the previous year, including body mass index and tobacco use, as outlined in the “Turkey Health Survey, 2022” on the Turkish Statistical Institute's website. In this context, information was collected from 22,742 individuals aged 15 and older, representing 10,028 households.
Results: It has been determined that low back pain is the most prevalent health condition in Turkey, followed by neck pain as the second most common. This is followed by hypertension at 16.1%, diabetes at 11.4%, and allergies at 9.6%. Among the participants, 21.1% were found to be obese. The current rate of tobacco use is 31%, and the depression rate is 6.9%.
Conclusion: In parallel with global findings, low back and neck pain are prevalent in Turkey, and risk factors associated with these conditions are frequently reported. Factors such as tobacco use, obesity, and depressive symptoms increase the likelihood of developing low back and neck pain. As a developing country, Turkey faces a significant risk of disease burden related to back and neck pain. Reducing risky health-related behaviors and promoting healthy living habits will help mitigate low back and neck pain. Identifying the risk factors associated with low back and neck pain may help prevent pain before it occurs, thereby reducing the likelihood of chronic pain in high-risk individuals by guiding them to appropriate or more intensive treatment programs and addressing their needs promptly and effectively.

Keywords

Back pain , neck pain , body mass index , obesity , tobacco use , depression

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