There are many causes for<unk><unk>  but degenerative changes are a precursor to<unk><unk>  becoming symptomatic. While the exact prevalence of degenerative<unk>  is unknown, it is estimated that it ranges from 1.7% - 13.1%. However, the results from these statistics have been put into question. This is mainly due to unclear diagnostic criteria. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are the most common ways to diagnosis<unk> , but clinically significant definitions of canal, foraminal, or subarticular narrowing do not exist. In addition to this, the lumbar and cervical types are more common than the rarer thoracic<unk> . Although<unk>  can be found isolated in one region of the spine, developmental<unk><unk>  will most likely involve both the cervical and lumbar sections. The age that people develop<unk><unk>  is correlated with change in the joint's biomechanics. Because of this, there has been a recent increasing trend seen by physicians, of<unk>  being more commonly diagnosed in older patients. Low back pain accounts for 17% of all physician visits of people aged 65 and older. From this population, a large portion of radicular pain stems not from disk pathology, but from<unk> . According to Kalff et al., 21% of people over the age of 60 have<unk> , as confirmed by radiological screening. Degenerative<unk>  has been predominantly seen in the 50 to 60-year-old population. A recent study in Japan found that the incidence of<unk>  increases with age. The study supports that<unk>  incidence increases incrementally in the following age groups, 1.7–2.2% in 40–49 years old population, and 10.3%–11.2% in 70–79 years old population. It is estimated that around 200,000 adults are afflicted with<unk>  in the United States and that by the year 2025, this number will rise to 64 million elderly. The syndrome occurs in 12% of older community-dwelling men and up to 21% of those in retirement communities.<unk><unk>  generally affects more men than women. A study in Geneva found that the ratio between men and women is 1.28. It went on to state that while the disease is strongly related to aging, men are affected earlier in life than women. This is likely due to heavy workload and a higher body mass index (BMI). Although<unk><unk>  tends to affect men more than women, degenerative spondylolisthesis in association with<unk><unk>  is more prevalent in women. Occupation, race, and smaller canal diameter also do not appear to have a correlation with the development of<unk><unk> . Furthermore, there is now a disproportionate rise in<unk>  surgery being performed. The incidence in the 1980s in Sweden was 5 per 100,000 people and increased 300% between 1987 and 1999. Again in 2013, Sweden reported an incidence of 40 per 100,000 people. The large increase in surgical treatment for this disease is well known and studied. The United States has also followed similar trends.
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Peripheral artery disease
Cervical spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis
Spinal disc herniation
Spinal tumor
Lumbar disc disease
Spinal disease