Prevalence and characteristics of upper or mid-back pain in Finnish men.
METHODS
Descriptive epidemiologic study.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the 1-year prevalence, severity, and frequency of mid-back pain in a general population sample of men, with comparisons to neck and low back pain.


BACKGROUND
No previous studies reporting the characteristics of mid-back pain in a general population were found.


METHODS
A total of 600 Finnish men 35 to 70 years of age were drawn from a population-based twin sample and interviewed with standardized pain questions.


RESULTS
The 1-year prevalence of mid-back pain was 17.0% (95% confidence interval, 14.3-19.7) compared to 64.0% (95% confidence interval, 60.6-67.5) for neck and 66.8% (95% confidence interval, 63.4-70.3) for low back pain. The frequency of pain over the previous year among those with mid- and low back pain was less than for neck pain. The mean severity of the worst pain episode was highest for low back pain followed by mid-back and neck pain, which were similar. Associated disability tended to be less frequent from mid-back pain (23.5% vs. 30.3%-41.1%). Odds ratios for neck and low back pain when mid-back pain was reported were 2.32 and 2.86, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of mid-back pain was approximately one fourth that of neck and low back pain and was somewhat less likely to be disabling. In cases of mid-back pain, spinal comorbidity was nearly always reported.
Niemeläinen
Riikka
R
Faculty of Rehabilitation, Medicine University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. riikka.niemelainen@ualberta.ca
Videman
Tapio
T
Battié
Michele C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index