title: Prevalence of lumbar spondylosis and its association with low back pain among community-dwelling Japanese women.
abstract: Lumbar spondylosis is more prevalent among the middle-aged and elderly, but few population-based studies have been conducted, especially in Japan. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of lumbar spondylosis and its associations with low back pain among community-dwelling Japanese women.
  
  
  
  Lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine were obtained from 490 Japanese women ≥ 40 years old, and scored for lumbar spondylosis using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade at lumbar intervertebral level from L1/2 to L5/S1. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Low back pain in subjects was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Stiffness index (bone mass) was measured at the calcaneal bone using quantitative ultrasound.
  
  
  
  Prevalence of radiographic lumbar spondylosis for KL ≥ 2, KL ≥ 3 and low back pain were 76.7%, 38.8% and 20.0%, respectively. Age was positively associated with radiographic lumbar spondylosis (KL = 2, KL ≥ 3) and low back pain. Greater BMI was associated with lumbar spondylosis with KL = 2, but not with KL ≥ 3. Stiffness index was associated with neither radiographic lumbar spondylosis nor low back pain. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified radiographic lumbar spondylosis (KL ≥ 3) at L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1 was associated with low back pain, independent of age, BMI and stiffness index.
  
  
  
  Severe lumbar spondylosis at the middle or lower level may contribute to low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Ritsu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. kzarima-ngs@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1149-9428
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yonekura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsubayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osaki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
keywords: Community-based study; Epidemiology; Low back pain; Lumbar spondylosis