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People with back problems are less likely to perceive their health as excellent/good than people without the condition according to the 2007–08 National Health Survey (NHS). The chronic and pervasive nature of back problems often lead to poorer quality of life, psychological distress, mental disorders and disability.

Figure 1: Self-perceived health of people with and without back problems, 2007–08

back problems - self-assessed health status PNG

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007-08. Source data

Overall, people with back problems were 1.2 times as likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress than those without the condition, and 1.7 times as likely to report any mental disorder. Affective mental disorders (such as depression) were particularly prevalent: people with back problems were 2.5 times as likely to report having affective disorders than those without back problems.

Figure 2: Mental disorders in people with back problems, 2007

back problems - relative risk of mental disorder PNG

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Source data

People with back problems were 3.4 times as likely to report some form of limitation in their core activities (for example, self-care and mobility) compared to those without the condition, according to the 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC).

Out of the 44% of people with back problems, 29% reported only mild to moderate core activity limitations. Another 14% reported severe or profound activity limitations. This can be compared to 5% of people without the condition.

Figure 3: Core activity limitations in people with and without back problems, 2009

back problems - core acitvity limitations PNG

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers. Source data

Source tables

Table 1a: Self-assessed health in people with back problems, 2007–08
Self-rated health status 15-24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75+ Total Per cent (a)
Excellent/very good 1,597 1,698 1,516 1,097 714 462 194 7,278 37.5*
Good 679.8 902 947 938 575 465 380 4,888 25.2*
Fair/poor 378.9 274 509 624 541 393 540 3,261 16.8*

(a) Age standardised to the Australian population as at June 2001.
*Statistically significant difference to people without back problems.

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007-08.

Table 1b: Self-assessed health in people without back problems, 2007–08
Self-rated health status 15-24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75+ Total Per cent (a)
Excellent/very good 1,776 1,755 1,688 1,361 801 466 281 8,129 41.9
Good 678 838 861 771 999 456 359 4,537 23.4
Fair/poor 201 281 422 527 455 398 475 2,761 14.2

(a) Age standardised to the Australian population as at June 2001.

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007-08.

Table 2: Psychological distress in people with and without back problems, 2007–08
Level of distress With back problems Without back problems Rate ratio
Number  Per cent Number Per cent
Low/moderate 1,506 80.8 12,525 83.9 1.0*
High/very high 357 19.2 2,404 16.1 1.2*
Total 1,863 19.2 14,929 100.0

* Statistically significant.
Note: Ages 18 and over only.

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007-08.

Table 3: Mental disorders in people with back problems, 2007
Type of mental disorder Relative risk
Any anxiety disorder 1.8
Any affective disorder 2.5
Any substance use disorder 1.3
Any mental disorder 1.7

Notes
1. Mental disorders are based on 12-month diagnoses which were derived based on lifetime diagnosis (i.e. a mental disorder at some point in the person's life) and the presence of symptoms of that disorder in the 12 months prior to the survey interview.
2. Affective disorders comprise: depressive episode, dysthymia, and bipolar affective disorder.
3. The survey collected information from people aged 16−85.
4. Relative risk in this context is the risk of someone with back problems reporting having a mental disorder compared with the risk of someone without back problems reporting having a mental disorder.

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Table 4: Back problems and core activity limitations, 2009
Level of activity limitation With back problems Without back problems Rate ratio
Number ('000) Percent Number ('000) Percent
Core-activity limitations 495 43.6 2,584 12.9 3.4*
Mild/moderate 334 29.4 1,513 7.5 3.9*
Severe/profound 161 14.2 1,071 5.3 2.7*
No activity limitations 641 56.4 17,474 87.1 0.6*
Total 1,137 100.0 20,058 100.0

* Statistically significant. 

Note: Core activities are self-care, mobility and communication. Core activity limitations (such as profound, severe, moderate, mild) are determined based on whether a person needs help, has difficulty, or uses aids or equipment with any of the 3 core activities.

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers.