Prevalencia de lumbalgia crónica asociada a la carga de equipo táctico en militares de 22 a 45 años del Hospital Naval Guayaquil entre el año 2022 y 2025.

Abstract

Chronic low back pain represents an important occupational health problem among military personnel due to the high physical demands associated with their activities, including the frequent transportation of tactical equipment, weapons, and protective gear. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic low back pain and its association with tactical equipment load among military personnel aged 22 to 45 years treated at the Naval Hospital of Guayaquil between 2022 and 2025. An observational, analytical, retrospective, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted through the review of clinical records. A total of 584 military patients were analyzed, considering sociodemographic and occupational variables such as age, sex, body mass index, years of military service, tactical equipment weight, and frequency of physical training. The overall prevalence of chronic low back pain was 59.6% (95% CI: 55.6-63.6), with the highest prevalence recorded in 2023 (64.1%). Military personnel with chronic low back pain carried a significantly greater average tactical equipment load than those without the condition (28.7 kg versus 23.1 kg; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that, for each additional kilogram of equipment carried, the odds of chronic low back pain were 18% higher (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.12-1.24; p < 0.001), adjusting for the variables included in the model. Older age and higher body mass index were also significantly associated with the presence of chronic low back pain. The main functional limitations identified were difficulty performing prolonged marches (61.5%), limitations in lifting heavy objects (53.7%), and reduced movement speed (38.5%), while work absenteeism reached 25.6%. It was concluded that chronic low back pain has a high prevalence among the military population studied and that there is a statistically significant association between greater tactical equipment load and the presence of this condition. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening prevention strategies, occupational health surveillance, and ergonomic optimization of military equipment.