The prevalence of low back pain in the elderly - A systematic review of the literature

Study Design. The prevalence of low back pain in the older population (grea ter than or equal to 65 years) was reviewed in an analysis of the literatur e from 1966 to the present. Objective. To determine the prevalence of low back pain in the geriatric po pulation. Summary of Background Data. Back pain is one of the most frequently reporte d conditions affecting the adult population. However, the prevalence of low back pain in the older age population is not accurately known. Methods. A methodologic search of five computerized bibliographic databases was performed to identify citations on the prevalence of low back pain in the elderly. Data were summarized, and prevalence studies were critically a ppraised in detail for their quality. Results. There is wide variability in the reported prevalence of back pain. Many factors have been proposed to explain these findings including sample source, study design, definitions of back pain, and use of patient-reporte d data. Comorbidity among older patients also contributes to the variabilit y in the reporting of prevalence of back pain. Conclusion. There is an under-representation of the older population in the back pain literature. The data in the current study suggest that the preva lence of low back pain in this population is not known with certainty and i s not comparable with that in the younger population. The authors stress th e need for future studies to improve the reporting of age information to ma ke prevalence studies more informative and applicable.