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Published in: European Spine Journal 5/2003

01-10-2003 | Original Article

Back pain remains a common symptom in old age. A population-based study of 4486 Danish twins aged 70–102

Authors: Jan Hartvigsen, Kaare Christensen, Henrik Frederiksen

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 5/2003

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Abstract

Back pain (BP) has been rated among the most important factors affecting physical health status in old age. Yet there is an under-representation of the older population in the BP literature. We present extensive interview data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins, dealing with a population-based sample of Danish twins aged 70–102, and describing the 1-month prevalence of BP and the development of BP over time. The associations between BP and education, self-rated health, other health problems, lifestyle factors, and physical and mental function were also investigated. Data were analysed in a cross-sectional analysis for all answers given at entry into the study and in a longitudinal analysis for participants in all four surveys. Associated factors were analysed for the cross-sectional sample using univariate and multivariate analysis accounting for the non-independence of twins in complete pairs. The overall 1-month prevalence of BP was 25% and differed significantly between men and women. The variations in prevalence between the age groups and over time were negligible. The majority of participants in all four surveys had either not experienced BP during the previous month or had done so on one occasion only. Education was not associated with BP. Self-rated health was associated with BP in a significant "dose-response" like pattern. BP was associated with bone and joint disorders, migraine headaches, lung disease, cardiovascular disorders and gastric ulcer, but not neurologic or endocrinologic diseases. BP sufferers had significantly lower scores on physical but not on mental functioning. We conclude that BP is a common symptom in old age; however, the prevalence does not change with increasing age. BP may be part of a more general syndrome of poor health among the old.
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Metadata
Title
Back pain remains a common symptom in old age. A population-based study of 4486 Danish twins aged 70–102
Authors
Jan Hartvigsen
Kaare Christensen
Henrik Frederiksen
Publication date
01-10-2003
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 5/2003
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-003-0542-y

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