Low back pain disparities differ for new cases and existing pain
A US research review found different racial and ethnic patterns depending on whether studies counted new pain or people already living with it.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found racial and ethnic differences in low back pain, with patterns varying by outcome and setting. Some studies reported more new chronic cases among Black than White adults. Existing low back pain was more prevalent among White and American Indian and Alaska Native adults. The review does not establish what caused these differences.
No studies examined subacute pain. The abstract describes limited incidence data for Hispanic and Latino adults, plus gaps in acute pain incidence and community-based prevalence research.
What researchers found
New chronic low back pain
Black versus White adults; observation periods were not reported in the abstract.
New cases versus existing pain
Incidence counts new cases; prevalence describes how many people have a condition. The review found different racial and ethnic patterns for these outcomes, making the distinction central to interpreting its results.
The setting matters
Military studies consistently found more new low back pain among Black service members than among other racial groups. This setting-specific pattern sits alongside gaps in research on how common the condition is in communities.
The original publication
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence and Prevalence of Low Back Pain in the United States: A Systematic Review.
Burke CA, Fillipo R, Epplein M et al.
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41083919
- Record checked
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