Table 5.
Outcome in patients who consulted their general practitioner with a new episode of low back pain and were followed up by interview according to duration of pain at first consultation. Values are numbers (percentages) of patients
| Outcome* | Duration of pain at time of first contact (weeks)
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | 2-3 | ⩾4 | |
| Initial interview (n=212) | |||
| No pain and no disability | 1 (5) | 1 (1) | 3 (3) |
| Pain or disability | 8 (36) | 25 (29) | 20 (19) |
| Pain and disability | 13 (59) | 60 (70) | 81 (78) |
| 3 month interview (n=188) | |||
| No pain and no disability | 6 (38) | 20 (25) | 13 (14) |
| Pain or disability | 6 (38) | 27 (34) | 22 (24) |
| Pain and disability | 4 (25) | 33 (41) | 57 (62) |
| 12 month interview (n=170) | |||
| No pain and no disability | 10 (67) | 21 (29) | 11 (13) |
| Pain or disability | 2 (13) | 20 (28) | 21 (25) |
| Pain and disability | 3 (20) | 31 (43) | 51 (61) |
*
No pain and no disability: visual analogue score for pain=0 or 1, Hanover disability score >90%. Pain or disability: either pain score=2-10 or disability score <90%, not both. Pain and disability: pain score=2-10 and disability score <90%.