Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a global epidemic that severely affects the quality of life and imposes a substantial economic burden worldwide. Occupational ergonomic factors are the most important modifiable contributors to LBP. In this study, we estimated the global burden of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP from 1990 to 2021 using the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 database and projected future trends. METHODS: Global years lived with disability (YLDs) and age-standardized YLD rate (ASYLDR) for occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP by sex and Socio-demographic index (SDI) among individuals aged 15-64 from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from the GBD 2021. Long-term trends were evaluated by calculating the average annual percent change (AAPC) of ASYLDR using a Joinpoint model. A Nordpred model was applied to analyze temporal changes in overall and age-specific YLDs and ASYLDR between 1990 and 2021, and to project trends from 2022 to 2045. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, global YLDs of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP increased by 40.63%. Projections indicated that all-age YLDs will exceed 15 million person-years by 2037. The ASYLDR of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP had shown a sustained decline since 1990, decreasing by 18.75% between 1990 and 2021, with an AAPC of -0.670% (95% confidence interval: -0.718 to -0.622). This downward trend is expected to persist until 2045. The SDI showed a negative correlation with ASYLDR (R = -0.36, p < 0.001). YLDs and ASYLDR were consistently higher in females than in males. CONCLUSION: While the disease burden of occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP has decreased, the reduction remains modest. Females, low SDI regions, and middle-aged/older adults (40-64 years) are the main contributors to the disease burden. Occupational ergonomic factor-induced LBP remains a critical public health problem that requires urgent attention to find global, comprehensive, effective, and targeted prevention strategies.