Table 3

 OR of neck/shoulder pain and low back pain, respectively, together with 95% CI associated with number of life events during the preceding 5 years

Case/controlNumber of life events
0–1*234–
OR†Case/controlOR† (95% CI)Case/controlOR† (95% CI)Case/controlOR† (95% CI)
Neck/shoulder
46/326171/3011.6 (1.1 to 2.4)80/2991.8 (1.2 to 2.7)242/7741.6 (1.2 to 2.0)
Low back
144/3261146/3011.1 (0.8 to1.5)163/2991.2 (0.9 to 1.6)343/7741.0 (0.8 to 1.2)
Case/controlNumber of critical life changes
0–1*234–
OR†Case/controlOR† (95% CI)Case/controlOR† (95% CI)Case/controlOR† (95% CI)
*Reference category; 0–1 life events during the preceding 5 years.
†Adjusted for age and sex.
Neck/shoulder
46/3261130/4401.9 (1.3 to 2.7)87/2712.2 (1.5 to 3.3)75/2162.2 (1.4 to 3.4)
Low back
144/3261232/4401.2 (0.9 to 1.5)122/2711.0 (0.8 to 1.4)106/2161.1 (0.8 to 1.5)