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Vertebral fractures and other predictors of back pain among older women

We examined the prevalence and predictors of back pain (BKP) among 645 postmenopausal Japanese‐American women in Hawaii with a mean age of 73.9 years (ranging from 55 to 93 years) and serial spine radiographs during the preceding 12 years. The overall prevalence of BKP was 32.9% and appeared to be constant up to age 80, with an increase thereafter. At most ages, pain in the lower back was the most common, upper BKP was less so, and mid‐BKP was the least common. The overall prevalence of BKP among Japanese‐American women in Hawaii was about half of that reported for U.S. Caucasians. Vertebral fractures were divided into three categories based on the length of time since the fracture was identified on radiographs. BKP was only associated with recent vertebral fractures (during the previous 4 years, on average) and increased progressively with the number and severity of fractured vertebrae. A history of a single recent fracture was associated with a 2.8‐fold increase in the odds of BKP; two recent fractures with a 7.8‐fold increase and three recent fractures with a 21.7‐fold increase in the odds of BKP. In addition, self‐reported disk problems, body mass index, and the number of other painful joints also showed independent associations with BKP. Height, spine bone mineral density (BMD), calcaneus BMD, smoking, and number of live births were not significantly associated with BKP. (J Bone Miner Res 1996;11:1026–1032)