Age-related prevalence of radiographic lumbar spondylolisthesis and its associations with low back pain, walking speed, and muscle index: findings from the second survey of the ROAD study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of lumbar spondylolisthesis (LS) and its association with low back pain, walking speed, grip strength, and muscle mass in the general population.

Methods: Participants included 1551 members of the general population from the 2nd ROAD (Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability) study conducted in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, between 2008 and 2010. Lumbar radiography diagnosed LS when the slip was ≥ 3 mm in the lateral views. Logistic regression analysis (adjusted for sex, age, area, and BMI) assessed the association between LS and low back pain, walking speed, grip strength, and appendicular lean mass.

Results: Complete data from 1522 participants (510 men, 1012 women, mean age 65.7 ± 12.2 years) were analyzed. The prevalence of LS increases with age, with an estimated one in five men aged 80 years or older and one in four women aged 70-79 years affected. Logistic regression showed LS was significantly associated with low back pain (OR: 1.36, CI: 1.03-1.80). Walking speed, grip strength, and appendicular lean mass were not significantly associated with LS. The prevalence of LS at any level was 17.4% in the total sample, 13.3% in men, and 19.5% in women (P = 0.005).

Conclusion: LS was prevalent in 17.4% of the general population, with a higher prevalence in women. Patients with LS had more low back pain than those without LS.