Table 3 Back pain definitions and age related information for all included articles

Andrianakos[9] Greece 2003

LBP Present or

Not described

Not described

19-

49-58; 59-68; 69-

(1) No

(1) No

Prevalence estimates decrease non-significantly in the oldest (≥69) age group for NP

recurrent either

radiating or not

NP present or recurrent either radiating or not

Freburger[10] USA 2009

LBP (but not NP) past yr

Not described

Chronic

21-

45-54; 55-64; 65-

(3) No

(3) No

Goode[11] USA 2010

NP (but not LBP) past yr

Not described

Chronic

21-

45-54; 55-64; 65-

(3) No

(3) No

Prevalence estimate decreases significantly in the oldest (≥65) age group

Guez[12] Sweden 2002

NP

Not described

Chronic (continuous NP >6 months)

25-

55-64; 65-74; 75-79

(1) No for both definitions

(1) No for both definitions

Prevalence estimate for chronic NP decreases in the oldest (≥65) age groups

NP >6 months

(3) No for both definitions

(3) No for both definitions

Hartvigsen[13] Denmark 2004

BP (only) past

BP: Not described NP: stiffness or pain

Not described

70-102

70-102

N/A

(1) No

month

Neck/shoulder

pain (only) past month

Both NP and BP past month

Keenan[14] UK 2006

NP >6 wks last 3

Any pain, swelling, and/or stiffness

Not described

55-

55-64; 65-74; ≥ 75

N/A

(1) No for both definitions

months

BP >6 wks last 3 months

Parsons[15] UK 2007

NP past month

Moderately to severely troublesome pain

Chronic (lasting for 3 months or more)

18-101

45-54; 55-64; 65-74; 75-101

(1) No for all definitions

(1) No for all definitions

Chronic BP based on the Chronic Pain Grade scale II-IV

upper back past

(2) No for all definitions

(2) No for all definitions

month

(3) No for all definitions

(3) No for all definitions

LBP past month

Picavet[16] Netherlands 2003

LBP past yr

Not described in relation to age

Unclear in relation to age

25-

45-54; 55-64; 65-74; 75-

(1) No for all definitions

(1) No for all definitions

Prevalence estimates decrease non-significantly with age. For current higher BP this was significantly lower.

Current NP

Current LBP

Current higher BP

Santos-Eggimann[17] Switzerland 2000

LBP >7

Not described

Not described

25-74

45-54; 55-64; 65-74

(1) No for both definitions

(1) No for both definitions

Prevalence estimates increase non-significantly with age for women in both definitions, and for men with LBP >30

cumulated days

past yr

LBP >30 cumulative days past yr

Strine[18] USA 2007

LBP (not NP)

Not described

Not described

18-

45-54; 54-64; 65-

(1) No for all definitions

(1) No for NP and LBP only, but yes for combined NP and LBP

Prevalence estimates decrease significantly in the oldest (≥65) age group for combined NP and LBP

≥1 day past 3

months

NP (not LBP) ≥1 day past 3 months

Both NP and ≥1 day past 3 months

Thomas[19] UK 2004

NP ≥1 day past

Not described

Not described

50-

50-59; 60-69; 70-79; 80-

(1) No for both definitions

(1) No for both definitions

Prevalence estimates decreases significantly between 60-69 and 70-79 for LBP and NP

month

LBP ≥1 day past

month

Webb[20] UK 2003

NP ≥1wk past

Intense

Chronic

16-

45-64; 65-74; 75-

N/A

(1) An increase in NP for men, otherwise decreasing with age

Significance cannot be determined due to missing information (sample sizes). There is a general A-shape across the 3 age groups, but with a few variations.

month

BP ≥1wk past month

Disabling

(2) Generally an increase from 45-64 to 65-74 in women, but not in men

NP and/or BP ≥1wk past month

(3) Generally an increase from 45-64 to 65-74 in women, but not in men