AB0847 Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain Is Common in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Hospital-Based Study in Cameroon

BackgroundLow back pain is the most frequent cause of rheumatic diseases in Africa (1). However the studies are scarce, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.ObjectivesTo determine the main characteristics of non-specific chronic low back pain in Cameroon, Central Africa.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study in all 6804 patients seen in Rheumatology department in a tertiary healthcare centre, the General Hospital of Douala, Cameroon, between January 2004 and December 2013. All patients followed for low back pain (pain experienced in all the lumbar region of the spine) were screened. Patients were classified into acute low back pain (3 months).Patients with specific low back pain (infection, tumor, fracture, inflammation, …) were excluded from this study. A p0.05) (Table 1).Table 1.Distribution of patients according to the low back pain durationN=2788n (%)Mean age, years [interquartile range]Sex ratio (F/H)Acute low back pain980 (35.2)51.71 (16–90)1.14Subacute low back pain506 (18.1)52.32 (16–87)1.20Chronic low back pain1302 (46.7)52.38 (20–81)1.67Table 2 shows the distribution of patients according to the radiographic lesions found. The disc disease, particularly the degenerative disc disease were the most common radiographic lesions, found in more than half of the patients.Table 2.Radiographics findingsN (%)Mean age ± standard deviationSex (women/men)Degenerative disc disease1542 (55)55.74±14.21985/565Disc herniation383 (13)52.46±14.29225/158Lumbar osteoarthritis247 (9)52.68±13.94156/76Facet joint osteoarthritis139 (5)52.38±14.28105/32Spinal stenosis93 (3)61.13±11.9955/37Spondylolisthesis88 (3)53.04±13.6368/18Transitional abnormalities116 (4)53.32±13.3759/57Combination of several lesions323 (12)52.45±14.21230/93No lesions173 (6)52.37±14.30105/68ConclusionsNon-specific chronic low back pain is the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition in Cameroon. It concerns almost half of the patients seen in Rheumatology department. The degenerative disc disease are the most