Correlation between Chronic Low Back Pain and Anthropometric Indices in the Elderly (aged 60–69 years): A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between chronic low back pain (CLBP) and anthropometric indices in the elderly.A total of 430 individuals with ages ranging from 60 to 69 years participated in this cross-sectional study.Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight; waist and hip circumference; and upper arm skinfold, scapular skinfold, and abdominal skinfold thicknesses were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated.To evaluate functional aspects pertaining to subjects while living with CLBP, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used.Among the elderly, no statistically significant difference was found in height, body mass; BMI; chestand waist, hip circumference; WHR; upper arm skinfold, scapular skinfold, and abdominal skinfold thicknesses between the elderly with CLBP and those without CLBP. Mann–Whitney U -test revealed no statistically significant difference in BMI, WHR, and weight, chest circumference between the elderly with CLBP and those without CLBP.Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that CLBP of the elderly was not correlated with height, weight, BMI, and chest circumference.Among the elderly, the ODI score of CLBP was statistically positively correlated with abdominal skinfold thickness ( r s = 0.165, P = 0.037) and with WC ( r s = 0.200, P = 0.012). Abdominal obesity is significantly associated with functional status in the elderly (aged 60–69 years) with CLBP.