Neck and Back Pain Are a Global Burden

A review of data from two studies found that in 2015, neck and low back pain ranked as the fourth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide just after ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection. The review also notes that in 2015, over 500 million people worldwide suffered from low back pain and over 333 million individuals suffered from neck pain longer than three months duration. The findings reveal the need to prioritize spinal pain research funding to address the huge and growing global burden caused by neck pain and back pain. European Spine Journal, February 2018