Correlation of body mass index and chronic pain in medical centers workers in Isfahan

Background: The last two decades have witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of people suffering a variety of painful syndromes. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the correlation between body mass index and chronic pain in hospital workers during 2006. Methods: In this prospective descriptive study 210 cases were enrolled during 2006 at Beheshti and Ayatollah Kashani medical centeres. Variables such as demographic information, BMI, clinical presentations of chronic pain, and VAS were included. The data were analyzed using regression and correlation coefficient statistical tests. Findings: All cases were female. Most cases aged between30-39 years. The most common types of chronic pain were low back pain, knee pain, headache, and a combination of these discomforts. Nearly 65% of cases had severe pain. BMI range was at 19-24. There was no significant difference between BMI and VAS for chronic pain. Conclusion: Many workers suffer chronic pains leading to economical damages. Decrease in chronic pain could be achieved by considering the association between an individual's bodily strength and the person's physical activities and also vocational psychology hygiene