RT Journal
A1 Freburger J, Carey TS
T1 LOw back pain in va users—reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2009
FD July 27
VO 169
IS 14
SP 1336
OP 1340
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.202
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.202
AB 
Based on the data presented, the prevalence of LBP increased approximately 39% from 2000 to 2007 in the VA population. While this increase is not as great as that reported in our article,1 the population and period examined differs. The veteran population is predominantly male and was likely to be somewhat older than our population. Our data and that of others2- 3 indicate that LBP is slightly more prevalent in women and in middle-aged adults. Analyses of the VA data are also limited to individuals who sought care for their LBP. We found that approximately 16% of our sample with chronic LBP did not seek care in the past year. Finally, the VA data cover a 7-year period, whereas our data cover a 14-year period.