More than 1.8 million Australians (9.2% of the total population) have back problems, based on self-reported data from the 2007–08 National Health Survey (NHS).
The prevalence of back problems was similar for men and women.
Age groups
Back problems were least common among people in the 0–14 years age group. The prevalence doubled from 5.4% in the 15–19 year age group to 10.8% in the 30–34 year age group. It remained relatively stable between the ages of 35 and 64. This suggests that many back problems commence in the 15–34 year age range. The prevalence of back problems declines slightly beyond 64 years of age.
Only a slight change in the rate was observed between 2004–05 and 2007–08, although the difference was not statistically significant.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
According to the 2004–05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS), Indigenous people were 1.3 times as likely to report having back problems as non-Indigenous people.
Remoteness
The prevalence of back problems did not vary between categories of geographical areas (i.e. major cities, inner regional, and other areas).
Socioeconomic status
No association was found in the prevalence of back problems and socioeconomic status.
Source tables
Table 1: Prevalence of back problems by age and sex, 2007–08
| Age group |
Males |
|
Females |
|
Persons |
| Per cent (a) |
95% CI (b) |
Per cent |
95% CI |
Per cent |
95% CI |
| 0–4 |
0.2 |
0.2–0.5 |
|
0.2 |
0.2–0.5 |
|
0.2 |
0.1–0.4 |
| 5–9 |
0.0 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
0 |
|
0.0 |
0 |
| 10–14 |
0.6 |
0.1–1.2 |
|
1.6 |
0.4–2.9 |
|
1.1 |
0.3–1.9 |
| 15–19 |
4.0 |
2.1–5.9 |
|
6.8 |
4.4–9.3 |
|
5.4 |
3.9–6.7 |
| 20–24 |
8.0 |
5.1–10.0 |
|
9.3 |
6.2–12.4 |
|
8.6 |
6.8–10.6 |
| 25–29 |
9.2 |
6.2–12.2 |
|
11.4 |
8.7–14.1 |
|
10.3 |
8.3–12.3 |
| 30–34 |
10.1 |
7.2–13.1 |
|
11.6 |
9.2–13.9 |
|
10.8 |
8.9–12.7 |
| 35–39 |
12.8 |
9.6–15.9 |
|
11.3 |
8.1–14.5 |
|
11.9 |
9.9–14.1 |
| 40–44 |
13.3 |
10.2–16.3 |
|
11.1 |
8.3–13.9 |
|
12.2 |
10.0–14.4 |
| 45–49 |
12.2 |
9.2–15.2 |
|
14.5 |
11.2–17.8 |
|
13.4 |
11.2–15.6 |
| 50–54 |
13.4 |
10.2–16.6 |
|
13.1 |
9.5–16.7 |
|
13.2 |
10.7–15.7 |
| 55–59 |
14.9 |
10.4–19.4 |
|
12.7 |
9.2–16.2 |
|
13.8 |
10.8–16.8 |
| 60–64 |
13.6 |
9.9–17.2 |
|
15.1 |
11.5–18.8 |
|
14.3 |
11.5–17.1 |
| 65–69 |
12.3 |
8.5–16.2 |
|
10.2 |
6.9–13.5 |
|
11.3 |
8.9–13.4 |
| 70–74 |
10.7 |
6.4–15.1 |
|
10.7 |
6.5–14.8 |
|
10.7 |
7.8–13.7 |
| 75–79 |
12.2 |
6.4–18.1 |
|
13.5 |
8.2–18.7 |
|
12.9 |
9.2–16.7 |
| 80–84 |
8.1 |
2.7–13.4 |
|
11.7 |
7.4–16.0 |
|
10.1 |
7.3–12.9 |
| 85+ |
4.4 |
0.4–8.4 |
|
13.6 |
6.2–21.1 |
|
10.5 |
5.3–15.7 |
| All |
8.7 |
7.9–9.4 |
|
9.3 |
8.5–9.9 |
|
9.0 |
8.5–9.5 |
(a) Total was age standardised to the Australian population as at 30 June 2001.
(b) Shows the lower and upper limits of confidence interval. We can be 95% confident that the true value is within the interval.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007-08.
Table 2: Change in the prevalence of back problems, 2004–05 to 2007–08
|
Males |
Females |
Persons |
| 2004–05 NHS |
10.9 |
10.5 |
10.7 |
| 2007–08 NHS |
8.7 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
Notes
(a) The 2001 NHS data was not used due to change in survey methodology.
(b) Age standardised to the Australian population as at June 2001.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS 2004–05 and 2007–08 National Health Surveys.
Table 3: Prevalence of back problems by Indigenous status, 2004–05
|
ASR (a) |
95% CI (b) |
Rate ratio (c) |
| Indigenous |
13.0 |
11.4–14.6 |
1.25 |
| Non-Indigenous |
10.4 |
9.9–10.9 |
|
(a) Directly age standarised to the Australian population as at 2001.
(b) Shows the lower and upper limits of confidence interval. We can be 95% confident that the true value is within the interval.
(c) Ratio of the Indigenous rate to the non-Indigenous rate.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2004–05.