The Increase in Early Menarche is Associated With the Increase in Chronic Back Pain in Female Adolescents: The Health Behavior in School-aged Children Study 2002-2014.

OBJECTIVE

Research has shown that there has been an increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain (CBP) in adolescents, especially in female adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that the observed increase in the prevalence of early menarche in female adolescents is contributing to the increase in the prevalence of CBP over time in this population.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 251,390 female adolescents from 27 countries/regions were drawn from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children questionnaire-based surveys conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. The Karlson-Holm-Breen method was used to examine the explanatory role of the increase in the prevalence of early menarche on the increase in the prevalence of CBP while controlling for socioeconomic status, physical activity, body mass index, and psychological symptoms.

RESULTS

The increase in the prevalence of early menarche between 2002 and 2014 was associated with the increase in the prevalence of CBP ( P < 0.001). The percent of CBP prevalence increase accounted for by the increase in early menarche was 2.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in the prevalence of CBP in female adolescents observed over the last decade may be explained, in part, by the decrease in the age of menarche. This finding, coupled with research showing a decline in early menarche worldwide, highlights the need to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms of the association between early menarche and pain-particularly CBP-in female adolescents.