Vitamin D levels appear to be normal in Danish patients attending secondary care for low back pain and a weak positive correlation between serum level Vitamin D and Modic changes was demonstrated: a cross-sectional cohort study of consecutive patients with non-specific low back pain

Table 2 Characteristics of the LBP patients

Descriptive statistics	Values
Age (years) n = 152	44.6 ± 11.2 (19–64)
Mean ± SD (range)	44.6 ± 11.2 (19–64)
Gender n = 152	♀ 100 (66%)
Female ♀/male ♂ (%)	♂ 52 (34%)
Body Mass Index, BMI n = 138	26.0 ± 4.5 (18.9-38.9)
Mean ± SD (range)	26.0 ± 4.5 (18.9-38.9)
LBP ^a n = 146	6.0 ± 2.0 (0.0-10)
Mean ± SD (range)	6.0 ± 2.0 (0.0-10)
Leg pain ^a n = 146	4.1 ± 3.0 (0.0-9.7)
Mean ± SD (range)	4.1 ± 3.0 (0.0-9.7)
Previous LBP episodes n = 143	107 (74.8%)
Frequency (%)	107 (74.8%)
Pain days per week: (frequency (%)) n = 144
Less than 1 day per week	2 (1.4%)
1-2 days per week	4 (2.8%)
3-4 days per week	13 (9.0%)
5-6 days per week	12 (8.3%)
Every day	113 (78.5%)
Weakness in legs n = 141	66 (46.8%)
Frequency (%)	66 (46.8%)
Paresthesia in legs n = 142	93 (65.5%)
Frequency (%)	93 (65.5%)
Widespread pain n = 143
Frequency (%)
≤ 5 pain areas	85 (59.4%)
> 5 pain areas	58 (40,6%)
Vitamin D level (nmol/L) n = 152	58.8 ± 26.2 (11–146)
Mean ± SD (range)	58.8 ± 26.2 (11–146)
Modic changes (frequency (%)) n = 152
No Modic	112 (73.7%)
Modic Type 1	18 (11.8%)
Modic Type 2	13 (8.6%)
Modic Types 1 + 2	9 (5.9%)

^a Pain intensity on LBP and leg pain is an average (0–10 numerical rating scale) based on pain now (0–10), worst pain in the last 2 weeks (0–10) and average pain last 2 weeks (0–10) [25].

ISSN: 1471-2474