title: Prevalence, incidence and progression of lumbar spondylosis by gender and age strata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence, incidence and progression of radiographic lumbar spondylosis (LS).
  
  
  METHODS
  From the Adult Health Study conducted by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 1,204 participants aged 44-85 years who had lumbar spine radiographs in 1990-1992 were reexamined in 1998-2000 (mean 7.9-year interval). The radiographic severity of LS was determined by Kellgren/Lawrence (KL) grading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall population, the prevalence of radiographic KL ≥ 2 and ≥ 3 LS was 52.9% and 23.6%, respectively. KL ≥ 2 LS was more prevalent in men, whereas KL ≥ 3 LS was more prevalent in women. During the 8-year follow-up, the incidence of KL ≥ 2 LS in men and women was 65.5% and 46.6%, that of KL ≥ 3 LS was 27.3% and 29.5%, that of progressive LS was 31.3% and 34.0%, and multilevel LS was 44.9% and 33.4%, respectively. Body-mass index was a risk factor for both KL ≥ 2 and KL ≥ 3 LS, after adjusting for age and sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present longitudinal study revealed the prevalence, incidence and progression of radiographic LS. Prevalence and incidence of KL ≥ 2 LS was higher in men than women, while, those of KL ≥ 3 were similar between men and women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Motor System Medicine, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muraki
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akune
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Ikuno
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Saeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Incidence; Lumbar spine; Prevalence; Progression; Spondylosis