Table 2.
Demographics and low back pain characteristics of study participants
| Characteristic | All participants | Participants with current low back pain |
|---|---|---|
| Age (median, Q1; Q3) a | 57 (40; 67) a | 58 (48; 68) d |
| Male (n, %) | 381/974 (39.1) | 76/211 (36) |
| Education (n, %) | ||
| < 10 years of school | 198/961 (20.6) | 55/207 (26.6) |
| 10 years of school | 519/961 (54.0) | 110/207 (53.1) |
| > 10 years of school | 244/961 (25.4) | 42/207 (20.3) |
| Self-assessed health status, n (%) b | ||
| Excellent | 23/954 (3.3) | 1/208 (0.3) |
| Very good | 126/954 (17.2) | 13/208 (9.3) |
| Good | 527/954 (54.6) | 85/208 (44.8) |
| Fair | 234/954 (21.0) | 86/208 (35.6) |
| Poor | 44/954 (4.0) | 23/208 (10.0) |
| Low back pain (n, %) b | ||
| Currently experiencing low back pain | 211/960 (20.6) | – |
| Low back pain in the last 12 months | 501/960 (54.8) | – |
| Low back pain not in the last 12 months | 248/960 (24.6) | – |
| Only participants with current low back pain or during the last 12 months (n = 712) | ||
| Presenting at the GP for low back pain (n, %) b | 96/690 (12.5) | 71/203 (33.8) |
| Low back pain on a 10-point scale in the last 12 months b | ||
| Median (Q1; Q3) | 5.0 (3; 6) e | 5.0 (4; 7) f |
| • Mild (0–5) | 439/687 (64.7) | 103/203 (54.5) |
| • Moderate (6, 7) | 162/687 (22.9) | 56/203 (26.1) |
| • Severe (8–10) | 86/687 (12.4) | 44/203 (19.5) |
| Analgesics for low back pain in the last 12 months (n, %) b | 406/712 (56.7) | 157/211 (73.9) |
| Interference of daily activity on a 10-point scale in the last 12 months (median, Q1; Q3) | 4.0 (3; 6) c | 5.0 (3; 7) g |
| Imaging for low back pain in the last 12 months (n, %) b | 194/705 (25.1) | 88/207 (39.6) |
| Surgery for LBP (n, %) b | 61/968 (4.7) | 25/210 (9.6) |
| Injection therapy (n, %) b | 472 /961 (43.9) | 148/2010 (65.9) |
a missing = 4, b weighted percentage, c missing = 42, d missing = 2, e missing = 25, f missing = 8, g missing = 7
Q1 First quartile, Q3 Third quartile