Prevalence and characteristics of upper or mid-back pain in Finnish men

Study Design. Descriptive epidemiologic study. Objectives. To examine the 1-year prevalence, severity, and frequency of mid-back pain in a general population sample of men, with comparisons to neck and low back pain. Summary of Background Data. No previous studies reporting the characteristics of mid-back pain in a general population were found. Methods. A total of 600 Finnish men 35 to 70 years of age were drawn from a population-based twin sample and interviewed with standardized pain questions. Results. The 1-year prevalence of mid-back pain was 17.0% (95% confidence interval, 14.3 - 19.7) compared to 64.0% ( 95% confidence interval, 60.6 - 67.5) for neck and 66.8% ( 95% confidence interval, 63.4 - 70.3) for low back pain. The frequency of pain over the previous year among those with mid- and low back pain was less than for neck pain. The mean severity of the worst pain episode was highest for low back pain followed by mid- back and neck pain, which were similar. Associated disability tended to be less frequent from mid- back pain ( 23.5% vs. 30.3% - 41.1%). Odds ratios for neck and low back pain when mid- back pain was reported were 2.32 and 2.86, respectively. Conclusion. The prevalence of mid- back pain was approximately one fourth that of neck and low back pain and was somewhat less likely to be disabling. In cases of mid- back pain, spinal comorbidity was nearly always reported.