Prevalence of idiopathic vertebral sclerosis, Zöetermeer, Rotterdam, 1975-1978

In order better to define the prevalence and characteristics of idiopathic vertebral sclerosis, we evaluated the roentgenograms of 1,391 individuals greater than or equal to 35 years of age) for the presence or absence of idiopathic vertebral sclerosis. One hundred two radiographs showed evidence of idiopathic vertebral sclerosis, a prevalence rate of 5% in this population. For the first time, a roentgenographic classification is offered. These "cases" were then classified into Types I-IV, based on the pattern and location of the sclerosis. The radiologic and demographic characteristics of Type I correlate most closely with previous studies that have investigated the association of vertebral sclerosis with chronic back pain. Women predominated in age-specific classifications; the female-to-male ratio in Type I was 4:1, a reproducible finding in previous studies. The large sample available for study supports the conclusion that this is an accurate estimate of the prevalence rate of idiopathic vertebral sclerosis.