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Chronic low back pain among older adults: a population-based perspective
Stefanie R Knauer1, Janet K Freburger, Timothy S Carey
1The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3210, USA. knauer@email.unc.edu
Journal of Aging and Health
|July 27, 2010
Summary
Older adults in North Carolina have higher chronic low back pain (LBP) prevalence and disability but seek care less often than younger groups. They also receive fewer treatments and use fewer medications for LBP.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a significant health issue, particularly in aging populations.
- Understanding age-related differences in LBP prevalence, health status, and healthcare utilization is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of chronic LBP in older North Carolinians.
- To describe the health status and healthcare utilization of older adults with chronic LBP.
- To compare these findings with younger adult subgroups.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional telephone survey of 5,357 households identified 732 adults with chronic, impairing LBP.
- Data collected included LBP prevalence, disability, symptom duration, depression levels, and healthcare seeking behaviors.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibited significantly higher chronic LBP prevalence (12.3%) compared to the 21-to-44-year group (6.5%).
- Older adults reported greater disability and longer symptom duration but lower depression scores.
- Healthcare seeking for chronic LBP was lower in older adults (80.6%) than the 45-to-64-year group (88.6%), with reduced utilization of various treatments and medications.
Conclusions:
- Significant age-related disparities exist in the prevalence, health impact, and healthcare utilization patterns of individuals with chronic LBP.
- Older adults with chronic LBP face unique challenges, including higher disability and lower engagement with healthcare services.
- Findings highlight the need for age-tailored strategies to manage chronic LBP effectively in older populations.
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