Two out of three Australians with back problems have at least one other chronic condition, with arthritis being the most common, the latest statistics from the AIHW show. 

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014–15 National Health Survey showed:

2 out of 3

Australians with back problems report at least one other chronic condition (65.4%).

31.4%

of people with back problems also report arthritis making it the most common comorbidity, followed by cardiovascular disease (30.9%) and mental health problems (29.8%).

1.2 times

More likely for people with back problems to be obese (32.6%) compared with people without back problems (26.6%).

Note: This information is based on self-reported data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2014–15 National Health Survey (NHS), and was last updated in June 2016. Back problems caused by other conditions such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis were classified as that condition and not included in these statistics. As such, the true prevalence of back problems presented may be an underestimate.