Quebec Low Back Pain Study: Core Dataset

Persistent back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Current therapeutic interventions are often either not effective or are associated with undesired consequences. These concerns are further amplified by the current opioid epidemic, resulting in an enormous public health crisis. Experts from diverse disciplines including molecular/cellular biology, neuroscience, psychology and public health formed the Quebec Back Pain Consortium to address this challenge. The overall goal of this project is to facilitate research on factors that contribute to the persistence and recovery from back pain. To accomplish this goal, we will recruit individuals suffering from acute and chronic low back pain across the province of Quebec and follow their pain trajectories over two years using an online platform. During that period, satellite projects will investigate specific risk factors including genetics, diet and physical activity, and advanced statistical methods will be used to integrate and interpret the data. A better understanding of factors influencing back pain will eventually allow for improved early intervention, interruption and prevention.