AOK: Almost one in three has back pain
More than 844,000 people in Schleswig-Holstein received medical treatment for back pain in 2021. That is 28.9 percent of the population, according to the "AOK Health Atlas Back Pain" published on Monday by the Scientific Institute of the AOK. While 25.5 percent of people in Kiel were treated for back pain, the proportion in the Dithmarschen district was 33.6 percent.
"Back pain causes enormous costs to the economy as a whole," said Tom Ackermann, CEO of AOK Nordwest. Regular physical activity helps to prevent back pain. "But in everyday life, most people struggle to put this into practice," said Ackermann. With its new umbrella campaign "Just 21 minutes of exercise a day helps", the AOK wants to provide impetus for an active everyday life.
According to the evaluation, Schleswig-Holstein is below the national average of 31.4 percent at 28.9 percent. The incidence of illness increases significantly with age. Women are more affected than men in almost all age groups. Over the age of 75, every second woman is treated for back pain.
In regions with a high proportion of overweight people, more people also suffer from back pain. Risk factors include depression, stress at work and a lack of exercise, according to the AOK. According to its own information, it has around 600,000 insured persons in Schleswig-Holstein.
Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including having health insurance, can help manage and prevent back pain. Many individuals with health insurance in Schleswig-Holstein seek treatment for back pain, indicating the importance of having health coverage for related medical expenses.
Source: www.dpa.com
