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. 2020 May 6;12(2):200–208. doi: 10.4055/cios19095

Table 2. Risk of Low Back Pain and Related Low Back Spinal Diseases According to Smoking Status in Men.

Variable Nonsmoker group (n = 43,961) Smoker group (n = 160,105) p-value
Low back pain (M545)
 Median duration of follow-up (IQR), yr 5.89 (3.62–8.74)
 No. (%) 9,654 (21.96) 35,283 (22.04) 0.01
 Incidence rate per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) 473.08 (463.64–482.52) 1729.00 (1710.96–1747.04) 0.01
 Difference per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) Reference 1255.92 (1255.76–1256.07) <0.001
 Multivariable-adjusted HR per year (95% CI)* 1 (Reference) 1.18 (1.15–1.21) <0.001
Intervertebral disc disease (M51)
 Median duration of follow-up (IQR), yr 4.79 (3.14–7.40)
 No. (%) 4,180 (9.51) 16,014 (10.00) <0.001
 Incidence rate per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) 204.84 (198.63–211.05) 784.75 (772.60–796.90) <0.001
 Difference per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) Reference 579.91 (579.81–580.01) <0.001
 Multivariable-adjusted HR per year (95% CI)* 1 (Reference) 1.25 (1.21–1.30) <0.001
Spinal stenosis (M4806, M4807)
 Median duration of follow-up (IQR), yr 7.64 (5.50–9.73)
 No. (%) 931 (2.12) 3,481 (2.17) 0.004
 Incidence rate per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) 45.62 (42.69–48.55) 170.58 (164.91–176.25) 0.004
 Difference per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) Reference 124.96 (124.91–125.01) <0.001
 Multivariable-adjusted HR per year (95% CI)* 1 (Reference) 1.52 (1.41–1.64) <0.001
Spinal instability (M5326, M5327)
 Median duration of follow-up (IQR), yr 4.94 (3.26–7.58)
 No. (%) 915 (2.08) 3,670 (2.29) <0.001
 Incidence rate per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) 44.84 (41.93–47.75) 179.84 (174.02–185.66) <0.001
 Difference per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) Reference 135.01 (134.95–135.06) <0.001
 Multivariable-adjusted HR per year (95% CI)* 1 (Reference) 1.33 (1.24–1.44) <0.001
Spondylolisthesis (M4316, M4317)
 Median duration of follow-up (IQR), yr 6.66 (4.94–8.71)
 No. (%) 243 (0.55) 900 (0.56) 0.023
 Incidence rate per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) 11.91 (10.41–13.41) 44.10 (41.22–46.98) 0.023
 Difference per 10,000 person-year (95% CI) Reference 32.20 (32.17–32.22) <0.001
 Multivariable-adjusted HR per year (95% CI)* 1 (Reference) 1.49 (1.23–1.80) <0.001

IQR: interquartile range, CI: confidence interval, HR: hazard ratio.

*HRs were estimated from Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, body mass index, total cholesterol, blood sugar, alcohol consumption (five categories based on frequency: never, 2–3 per month, 1–2 per week, 3–4 per week, and everyday), physical activity (five categories based on frequency: never, 1–2 per week, 3–4 per week, 5–6 per week, and everyday), and socioeconomic status (three categories based on income: high, middle, and low).