Lower back pain has become a health issue in recent decades due to sedentary life style and inadequate diet consumption. The vast majority of the LBP research has focused on the working aged population so it is poorly understood in older adults. The objective of this study was to make a comparison between older adults suffering with chronic LBP, middle aged and young adults suffering with chronic LBP, in terms of their baseline characteristics, pain and disability outcomes over the period of 1 year.

The method includes systematic collection of data as part of routine care in a secondary care spine clinic. At initial, patients filled a self-report questionnaire and then undergone a physical examination. Two groups were formed for 10 baseline characteristics according to age of individuals in the group. These groups are: Older adults (older than 65), middle aged (45–65years old) and younger adults (17–44 years old). Data regarding pain intensity and disability was collected at 6 and 12 month follow-ups and comparison was done between all age groups. A total of 14,479 participants were enrolled in the study. Of these 3087 (21%) patients were older adults, 6071 (42%) were middle aged and 5321 (37%) were young adults. Older adults were statistically different from the middle aged and younger adults for most characteristics measured (e.g. less intense back pain, more leg pain and more depression) but these differences were small. There was no change in pain and disability over 12 months between all age groups.

The results indicated small baseline differences in older people with chronic LBP when compared to middle aged and younger adults. No associations were found between age groups and the clinical course. Small baseline differences existing in older people with chronic low back pain were referred to as secondary care for chronic low back pain. Older adults suffer with less intense low back pain but suffers from more intense leg pain.