[Epidemiological aspects of spinal diseases in the GDR in 1979 to 1988]

The socio-economic impact of disorders of the spine and the back has obtained an increasing importance in all industrial countries. Considering indicators of public health and national economy, namely temporary sickness incapacity for work, invalidity (insured persons in the GDR), utilization of hospital services (total population of the GDR), of rheumatological dispensaries as well as of the general practitioner, frequencies have been studied and trends pursued by means of serial analyses in a 10-year period. Diseases of the spine and the back within diagnostic class XIII/ICD, 9th revision, 1975 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue) have caused--nearly 2/3 of all cases of sickness incapacity for work--1/3 of the incidence of disability pensions--about 1/3 of the utilization of hospital services--about 1/5 of the utilization of rheumatological dispensaries--more than 50% of all cases consulting the general practitioner. As to the indicators sickness incapacity for work, incidence of disability pensions and discharges from the hospital, the serial analyses of the period from 1979 to 1988 have shown that the diseases of the spine and the back have the highest increase within the group of class XIII.