461: Prevalence of low back pain in the general population of Latin American countries. Systematic review

Topic: Clinical Science
Subtopic: Pain category (ICD-11), Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain, Epidemiology

Background and Aims: Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where robust, population-level prevalence data is scarce and health systems are under strain due to competing priorities. In Brazil, for example, low back pain generates substantial healthcare expenditure and productivity losses. Summarising prevalence estimates from population-based studies in Latin American LMICs could offer valuable insights for health policy, such as burden estimation, resource prioritisation and the integration of low back pain into non-communicable disease strategies. This study aimed to summarise low back pain prevalence in Brazil and other Latin American countries.

Methods: We are conducting a systematic review of observational studies which reported the prevalence of low back pain for any recall period. We are therefore presenting preliminary results of studies conducted in the general population. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI tool for prevalence studies. We estimated pooled prevalence using random-effects meta-analyses with Freeman–Tukey transformed proportions and back-transformation. Separate meta-analyses were performed for Brazil, other countries, and all studies combined, as well as by prevalence timeframe (≤1 month and 12 months). Meta-regression included the risk-of-bias score, mean age, and sample size (<1,000 and >1,000 participants).

Results: Fifteen population-based studies were included. The pooled prevalence for non-Brazilian Latin American countries was 11.2% (95% CI: 6.2–17.5%). For Brazil, the pooled prevalence was 29.1% (95% CI 17.5–42.3%), and 12-month and ≤1-month prevalence rates were 31.9% (95% CI 16.3–50.0%) and 25.7% (95% CI 8.6–48.0%), respectively, with no significant subgroup differences. When all studies were combined, the overall prevalence was found to be 21.2% (95% CI: 13.2–30.4%), with wide prediction intervals. Meta-regression analysis did not identify any significant effects of risk of bias, mean age or sample size, and residual heterogeneity remained high.

Conclusions: The prevalence of low back pain in population-based studies from Latin America is high, but varies considerably between countries and within Brazil. The variety of case definitions, recall periods and population profiles makes it difficult to interpret a single pooled estimate for the region, even when random-effects models and meta-regression are used. Global estimates should therefore be viewed as approximate descriptive averages rather than precise values. There is clearly a need to standardise definitions, timeframes, and data collection methods in order to obtain more comparable and policy-relevant prevalence estimates in Latin America.

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Presenting Author: Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro
Submitting Author: Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro

Senior Author: Judith Bosmans

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Yara Andrade Marques: MS - Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
• Marina Cardoso de Melo Silva: MS - Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
• Caroline Ribeiro Tottoli: PhD - Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
• Aline Martins de Toledo: PhD - Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
• Fernanda Pasinato: PhD - Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
• Hans Ket: PhD - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Andres Vigal Itriago: PhD - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Angela Jornada Ben: PhD - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Livia Fernandes Probst: PhD - UNICAMP
• Maria Augusta de Araujo Mota: MS - Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
• Judith Bosmans: PhD - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam