Background: Low back pain in children and adolescents is a significant public health problem and its presence at this stage increases the risk of LBP in adulthood. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of back pain in children and adolescents and assess the methodological quality of the studies.
Methods: A systematic review of observational epidemiology was conducted. The databases ISI Web of Knowledge, MEDLINE, PEDro, IME, LILACS and CINAHL, hand searching and consultation with experts were used. Selection of included studies: results of prevalence rates in the sample; published or performed between 1980 and 2011; sample size of at least 50 subjects; 18 years or less and of any ethnicity. Moderating variables of the studies were coded by two authors. Analysis descriptive of frequency distributions, percentages, numbers of cases, and medium estimates for prevalence rates were performed.
Results: 59 articles were included. The mean age was 13.56, 51.15% males. The medians for point, period and lifetime LBP prevalence were respectively 13.60%, 24.75%, and 38.50%.
Conclusions: The prevalence of LBP increases with age. Sex influences the prevalence rates. The lack of an adequate definition and delimitation of low back pain and the absence of specifications such as frequency, duration, and intensity of pain were the most common methodological flaws in the studies.