Neck pain and disability following motor vehicle accidents--a cohort study.

• The primary aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of neck pain and disability in a group exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) with those in the general population. The secondary aim was to assess the prevalence of a past history of exposure to an MVA with sequelae of neck pain in the general population. The exposed group consisted of 121 patients with neck complaints following an MVA in 1983. The control group, consisting of 1,491 subjects, was randomly selected, with attention to the distribution of age and gender in the exposed group. A neck-pain questionnaire was mailed to the subjects. In the control group, it included enquiry about a history of exposure to an MVA with sequelae of neck pain. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess neck-related disability. In the exposed group 108 subjects (89%) responded, and in the control group 931 (62%) did. Seventeen years after the MVA, 59 subjects (55%) reported neck pain in the exposed group, with no gender differences. In the control group 270 (29%) reported neck pain with a higher frequency among women (34%) than men (19%) (p<0.01). There was a significant difference between the exposed group and the control group regarding the occurrence of neck pain (p<0.001). In the control group 34% recalled a history of an MVA, among whom one-third reported neck pain in connection with the accident and 28% had persistent neck pain referable to the accident. The exposed group scored significantly higher on the NDI (p<0.001) and reported significantly higher neck pain intensity than did the control group (p<0.001). In conclusion, a past history of exposure to an MVA with sequelae of neck pain appears to have a substantial impact on future persistent neck pain and associated disability.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Accidents

Traffic

statistics & numerical data

Activities of Daily Living

Adult

Age Factors

Aged

Aged

80 and over

Causality

Cohort Studies

Comorbidity

Disability Evaluation

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Neck Injuries

complications

epidemiology

physiopathology

Neck Pain

epidemiology

etiology

physiopathology

Pain Measurement

Prevalence

Prognosis

Questionnaires

Sex Factors

Whiplash Injuries

epidemiology

etiology

physiopathology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)