Spine

The number of persons reporting a spine condition increased by 3.6 million, from 27.4 million in 1996 to 1998 to 31.0 million in 2009 to 2011, while the prevalence, at 10.1%, was unchanged. The majority of spine conditions occur in working age people, with about 36% among persons age 18 to 44 years and another 39% among those age 45 to 64 years. The higher prevalence among working-age persons is reflected in the prominence of spine conditions in workers’ compensation and disability claims. Nevertheless, one in five spine conditions (20%) occurs among persons 65 years and older, with the rate increasing over the years in this age group. (Reference Table 10.1.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])