Table 3.
Back pain definitions and age related information for all included articles
| Author country year of publication | Definition of BP (1) | Severity of BP (2) | Chronicity (3) | Age range | Age groups relevant for present review | Significantly higher prevalence of BP immediately after than immediately before 60 (yes/no) | Significantly higher prevalence of BP as age increases after 60 (yes/no) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrianakos[9] Greece 2003 |
LBP Present or |
Not described |
Not described |
19- |
49-58; 59-68; 69- |
(1) No |
(1) No |
Prevalence estimates decrease non-significantly in the oldest (≥69) age group for NP |
| |
recurrent either |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
radiating or not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
NP present or recurrent either radiating or not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Freburger[10] USA 2009 |
LBP (but not NP) past yr |
Not described |
Chronic |
21- |
45-54; 55-64; 65- |
(3) No |
(3) No |
|
| Goode[11] USA 2010 |
NP (but not LBP) past yr |
Not described |
Chronic |
21- |
45-54; 55-64; 65- |
(3) No |
(3) No |
Prevalence estimate decreases significantly in the oldest (≥65) age group |
| Guez[12] Sweden 2002 |
NP |
Not described |
Chronic (continuous NP >6 months) |
25- |
55-64; 65-74; 75-79 |
(1) No for both definitions |
(1) No for both definitions |
Prevalence estimate for chronic NP decreases in the oldest (≥65) age groups |
| |
NP >6 months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
(3) No for both definitions |
(3) No for both definitions |
|
| Hartvigsen[13] Denmark 2004 |
BP (only) past |
BP: Not described NP: stiffness or pain |
Not described |
70-102 |
70-102 |
N/A |
(1) No |
|
| |
month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Neck/shoulder |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
pain (only) past month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Both NP and BP past month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Keenan[14] UK 2006 |
NP >6 wks last 3 |
Any pain, swelling, and/or stiffness |
Not described |
55- |
55-64; 65-74; ≥ 75 |
N/A |
(1) No for both definitions |
|
| |
months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
BP >6 wks last 3 months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Parsons[15] UK 2007 |
NP past month |
Moderately to severely troublesome pain |
Chronic (lasting for 3 months or more) |
18-101 |
45-54; 55-64; 65-74; 75-101 |
(1) No for all definitions |
(1) No for all definitions |
Chronic BP based on the Chronic Pain Grade scale II-IV |
| |
upper back past |
|
|
|
|
(2) No for all definitions |
(2) No for all definitions |
|
| |
month |
|
|
|
|
(3) No for all definitions |
(3) No for all definitions |
|
| |
LBP past month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Picavet[16] Netherlands 2003 |
LBP past yr |
Not described in relation to age |
Unclear in relation to age |
25- |
45-54; 55-64; 65-74; 75- |
(1) No for all definitions |
(1) No for all definitions |
Prevalence estimates decrease non-significantly with age. For current higher BP this was significantly lower. |
| |
Current NP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Current LBP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Current higher BP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Santos-Eggimann[17] Switzerland 2000 |
LBP >7 |
Not described |
Not described |
25-74 |
45-54; 55-64; 65-74 |
(1) No for both definitions |
(1) No for both definitions |
Prevalence estimates increase non-significantly with age for women in both definitions, and for men with LBP >30 |
| |
cumulated days |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
past yr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
LBP >30 cumulative days past yr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Strine[18] USA 2007 |
LBP (not NP) |
Not described |
Not described |
18- |
45-54; 54-64; 65- |
(1) No for all definitions |
(1) No for NP and LBP only, but yes for combined NP and LBP |
Prevalence estimates decrease significantly in the oldest (≥65) age group for combined NP and LBP |
| |
≥1 day past 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
NP (not LBP) ≥1 day past 3 months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Both NP and ≥1 day past 3 months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thomas[19] UK 2004 |
NP ≥1 day past |
Not described |
Not described |
50- |
50-59; 60-69; 70-79; 80- |
(1) No for both definitions |
(1) No for both definitions |
Prevalence estimates decreases significantly between 60-69 and 70-79 for LBP and NP |
| |
month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
LBP ≥1 day past |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Webb[20] UK 2003 |
NP ≥1wk past |
Intense |
Chronic |
16- |
45-64; 65-74; 75- |
N/A |
(1) An increase in NP for men, otherwise decreasing with age |
Significance cannot be determined due to missing information (sample sizes). There is a general A-shape across the 3 age groups, but with a few variations. |
| |
month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
BP ≥1wk past month |
Disabling |
|
|
|
|
(2) Generally an increase from 45-64 to 65-74 in women, but not in men |
|
| NP and/or BP ≥1wk past month | (3) Generally an increase from 45-64 to 65-74 in women, but not in men |
* (1), (2), and (3) refer to type of pain reported.
LBP = low back pain; NP = neck pain; = back pain.
N/A = not applicable.