Lumbar disc degeneration in Thai elderly: a population-based study

Determine the prevalence and related factors of lumbar disc degeneration in the Thai elderly.

A population-based study was done at Rom Klao community, Bangkok. Seven hundred and ninety-two cases (306 males, and 486 females) out of 1166 elderly people aged > or =50 (mean age of 61.07 +/- 7.8 years) were assessed. The lateral spinal radiographs were interpreted as spondylosis grade 0-3 according to the degree of severity.

Males had more prevalence of grade 2-3 spondylosis than females (58.8% vs. 52.9%), but females had higher prevalence of spinal listhesis (14.4% vs. 8.8%). Age was a strong predicting factor for disc degeneration (OR = 1.088, 95% CI = 1.065-1.111, p = 0.000). Females had more risk to develop spinal listhesis (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.11-3.05, p = 0.020) and low back pain (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.29-2.56, p = 0.001). BMI was a predicting factor for spondylosis (OR = 1.066, 95% CI = 1.02-1.10, p = 0.000). About 27% of the cases reported moderate-severe low back pain and had lower Barthel ADL index (p = 0.018).

Lumbar disc degeneration and low back pain were highly prevalent among the Thai elderly. Therefore, they need proper health care for disability prevention.