Prevalence of musculoskeletal activity limitation and associated factors among adults in the general population in the 1998 Quebec Health Survey

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of short term and longterm musculoskeletal activity limitation among the general adult population of the province of Quebec, and to identify which factors are associated with these limitations. Methods. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the 1998 Quebec Health Survey. Logarithmic binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios of (1) short term activity limitation related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD); and (2) longterm activity limitation related to MSD in relation to demographic and behavioral variables and comorbidity factors. Results. About one-fifth of participants reporting short term activity limitation and one-third of participants reporting longterm activity limitation mentioned MSD as a cause. Multivariate analyses showed that higher age, lower income, being overweight, ill defined nervousness, and the number of traumatic events that occurred before age 18 years were significantly associated with short term and longterm activity limitation related to MSD, whereas being in the minority ethnic group was protective for both outcomes. Female sex, physical inactivity, being a former alcohol drinker, and mental disorders were also associated with longterm activity limitation. Conclusion. MSD are a major cause of activity limitation among adults from Quebec. With the aging population and the increasing prevalence of obesity, increasing prevalence of activity limitation related to MSD is to be expected.