Prevalence and Patterns of Lumbar Spine Modic Changes Among Adult Patients with a History of Low Back Pain in the Northern Zone, Tanzania.
- 1KCMC University
Abstract
IntroductionLow back pain (LBP) is a common leading cause of functional disability in adults worldwide, presenting with Modic changes that are visible within the endplates of the vertebral body under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Modic changes (MC) are not just a coincidental imaging finding; they reflect underlying pathology that needs treatment focus. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and patterns of Modic changes in the lumbar spine among adult patients with a history of low back pain attending the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) Orthopedic clinic.
MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the KCMC orthopedic clinic from 2nd October 2024 to 30th May 2025. Data from adult patients with a history of low back pain who had undergone lumbar spine MRI were collected, cleaned, and analyzed in SPSS (version 25).
Categorical variables were summarized by frequency and proportion, while continuous variables were summarized using the mean and standard deviation. Frequency tables, histograms, and pie charts were used for results presentation.
ResultsOf the 283 patients enrolled in the study, the mean age was (57.2 {+/-}15.7) years, with the majority (145; 51.2%) being aged > 59 years. Most patients, 203 (71.7%), were females, while 176 (62.2%) were married, and 142 (50.2%) were overweight. The prevalence of MC on the lumbar spine among patients with a history of low back pain was 66.4% (n=188). Among patients with lumbar spine MC, the majority, 112 (59.6%), were aged over 59 years, and 125 (66.5%) had lumbar spine MC type II, which was the most predominant compared to other types of MC.
ConclusionModic changes on the lumbar spine are prevalent in adult patients with low back pain, particularly those over 59 years, with type II being the most common. Healthcare professionals and policymakers should recognize Modic changes as clinically relevant findings that require consideration in the management of patients with a history of low back pain rather than dismissing them as mere incidental or coincidental observations.
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BibTeX
@misc{lutatina2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and Patterns of Lumbar Spine Modic Changes Among Adult Patients with a History of Low Back Pain in the Northern Zone, Tanzania.}},
author = {J. Lutatina and R. Temu and P. M. Magembe and F. N. Mandari and L. Majuka and D. Mtui and J. Mollel and F. Olottu and F. Uisso and G. Kawiche and M. S. Ncheye and H. H. Massawe},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.24.26363960},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.24.26363960v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Prevalence and Patterns of Lumbar Spine Modic Changes Among Adult Patients with a History of Low Back Pain in the Northern Zone, Tanzania.
AU - J. Lutatina
AU - R. Temu
AU - P. M. Magembe
AU - F. N. Mandari
AU - L. Majuka
AU - D. Mtui
AU - J. Mollel
AU - F. Olottu
AU - F. Uisso
AU - G. Kawiche
AU - M. S. Ncheye
AU - H. H. Massawe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.24.26363960
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.24.26363960v1
AB - IntroductionLow back pain (LBP) is a common leading cause of functional disability in adults worldwide, presenting with Modic changes that are visible within the endplates of the vertebral body under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Modic changes (MC) are not just a coincidental imaging finding; they reflect underlying pathology that needs treatment focus. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and patterns of Modic changes in the lumbar spine among adult patients with a history of low back pain attending the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) Orthopedic clinic. MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the KCMC orthopedic clinic from 2nd October 2024 to 30th May 2025. Data from adult patients with a history of low back pain who had undergone lumbar spine MRI were collected, cleaned, and analyzed in SPSS (version 25). Categorical variables were summarized by frequency and proportion, while continuous variables were summarized using the mean and standard deviation. Frequency tables, histograms, and pie charts were used for results presentation. ResultsOf the 283 patients enrolled in the study, the mean age was (57.2 {+/-}15.7) years, with the majority (145; 51.2%) being aged > 59 years. Most patients, 203 (71.7%), were females, while 176 (62.2%) were married, and 142 (50.2%) were overweight. The prevalence of MC on the lumbar spine among patients with a history of low back pain was 66.4% (n=188). Among patients with lumbar spine MC, the majority, 112 (59.6%), were aged over 59 years, and 125 (66.5%) had lumbar spine MC type II, which was the most predominant compared to other types of MC. ConclusionModic changes on the lumbar spine are prevalent in adult patients with low back pain, particularly those over 59 years, with type II being the most common. Healthcare professionals and policymakers should recognize Modic changes as clinically relevant findings that require consideration in the management of patients with a history of low back pain rather than dismissing them as mere incidental or coincidental observations.
ER -