title: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Lumbar Spondylosis and Its Association with Low Back Pain among Rural Korean Residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and the relevant risk factors for lumbar spondylosis (LS) among middle-aged and elderly rural Korean residents and to explore the association between radiographic LS and lower back pain (LBP) in relation to age and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  This community-based, cross-sectional study evaluated 1512 subjects with available radiograph. The prevalence of LBP was obtained using a questionnaire and disability resulting from LBP was measured using a validated Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (ODI). In lumbar spine radiographs, vertebral levels from L1/2 to L4/5 were evaluated for the presence of osteophytes and joint-space narrowing (JSN), and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 4261 subjects aged 40-79 years, data from 1512 subjects were included. The prevalence of radiographic LS indicated by grade ≥2 osteophytes and JSN were 53.9 and 15.8%, respectively. Seventy-three percent of subjects had KL grade ≥2 spondylosis and LBP was present in 36.5% of subjects. Although LS was more common among males, the prevalence of LBP was higher among females. Age, male gender and history of hand or knee arthritis were risk factors for LS. LS was significantly associated with LBP mostly among females over 60 years old and correlated with the ODI after adjusting for age and gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study among rural Korean residents revealed a high prevalence of LS and LBP. The association between LS and LBP was observed mostly among females and LS was significantly correlated with the severity of back pain.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ok
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Lower back pain; Lumbar spondylosis; Prevalence; Risk factors