Journal article
Low back pain in Australian adults. Prevalence and associated disability
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol.27(4), pp.238-244
2004
Abstract
Objectives
To determine the prevalence ranges of low back pain (LBP) together with any related disability in Australian adults.
Design
A population-based survey.
Methods
The survey was mailed in June 2001 to a stratified random sample of 3000 Australian adults selected from the Electoral Roll. Demographic variables of respondents were compared with the Australian population. Selective response bias was investigated using wave analysis. A range of prevalence data was derived, as were disability scores using the Chronic Pain Grade.
Results
There was a 69% response rate. There was little variation between the sample and the Australian adult population. There was no significant selective response bias found. The sample point prevalence was estimated at 25.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.6-27.5), 12-month prevalence was 67.6% (95% CI, 65.5-69.7), and lifetime prevalence was 79.2%, (95% CI, 77.3-81.0). In the previous 6-month period, 42.6% (95% CI, 40.4-44.8) of the adult population had experienced low-intensity pain and low disability from it. Another 10.9% (95% CI, 9.6-12.3) had experienced high intensity-pain but still low disability from this pain. However, 10.5% (95% CI, 9.2-11.9) had experienced high-disability LBP.
Conclusion
LBP is a common problem in the Australian adult population, yet most of this is low-intensity and low-disability pain. Nevertheless, over 10% had been significantly disabled by LBP in the past 6 months. Data from this study will provide a better understanding of the magnitude of the LBP problem in Australia, the need for access to health care resources, and also strategic research directions.
Keywords
• Low Back Pain;
• Prevalence;
• Incidence;
• Disability;
• Epidemiology
Details
- Title
- Low back pain in Australian adults. Prevalence and associated disability
- Authors/Creators
- B.F. Walker (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityR. Muller (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Tropical Health and MedicineW.D. Grant (Author/Creator) - SUNY Upstate Medical University
- Publication Details
- Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol.27(4), pp.238-244
- Publisher
- Mosby Inc.
- Identifiers
- 991005540929807891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.129 Back pain
- 1.129.98 Low Back Pain
- Web Of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Integrative & Complementary Medicine
- Rehabilitation
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine