title: Chronic low back pain among older adults: a population-based perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of chronic low back pain (LBP) in older North Carolinians, describe their health and health care utilization, and compare these findings with younger subgroups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, telephone survey of 5,357 households was conducted to identify 732 adults with chronic, impairing LBP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chronic LBP prevalence in older adults was significantly higher than the 21-to-44-year age group (12.3% vs. 6.5%, p < .001). Older adults were more disabled, had longer symptom duration, and were less depressed. Chronic LBP care seeking in older adults was significantly lower than the 45-to-64-year age group (80.6% vs. 88.6%, p = .02). Older adults were less likely to receive bed rest, spinal manipulation, heat/cold treatments, electrical stimulation, and massage therapy. Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, strong narcotics, and antidepressants was significantly lower in the older age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are age-related differences in health and health care use among individuals with chronic LBP.
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3210, USA. knauer@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Stefanie R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Knauer
authors.forename: Janet K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Freburger
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011594:Psychometrics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal