Associations Between Allergies, Walking, Sedentary Time, and Low Back Pain

To examine associations between allergies, low back pain (LBP), walking, and sedentary time in a representative sample of adults aged 50 years and older.A cross-sectional, correlational study.We used the 2014-2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Allergies of interest included allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Adequate walking was defined as walking five or more days per week. Sedentary time was categorized as <7 h vs. ≥7 h. Logistic regression was performed to examine the association between allergies and LBP, controlling for demographics and lifestyle. Subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the role of walking and sedentary lifestyle in LBP among those with or without allergies.Of 4,897 respondents, 23.1% reported LBP. After controlling for covariates, individuals with allergies were 1.68 times more likely to have LBP than those without allergies. In the non-allergy group, those with inadequate walking and sedentary lifestyles were nearly twice as likely to report LBP than those with adequate walking and without sedentary lifestyles. However, this trend was not observed in the patients with allergy diagnoses.We confirmed associations between lifetime allergy diagnosis and LBP. A protective role of physical activity and non-sedentary lifestyle in LBP remained only among those without allergies.Nurses should emphasize the impact of allergies on LBP. The advantages of walking and non-sedentary lifestyles for preventing or relieving chronic conditions should be routinely included in patient education; however, their preventive role in LBP should be underscored for those without allergies.