The incidence of cervical spondylosis decreases with aging in the elderly, and increases with aging in the young and adult population: a hospital-based clinical analysis

Abstract

Background and purposeCervical spondylosis is well accepted as a common degenerative change in the cervical spine. Compelling evidence has shown that the incidence of cervical spondylosis increases with age. However, the relationship between age and the incidence of cervical spondylosis remains obscure. It is essential to note the relationship between age and the incidence of cervical spondylosis through more and more clinical data.MethodsIn the case-controlled study reported here, retrospective clinical analysis of 1,276 cases of cervical spondylosis has been conducted. We analyzed the general clinical data, the relationship between age and the incidence of cervical spondylosis, and the relationship between age-related risk factors and the incidence of cervical spondylosis. A chi-square test was used to analyze the associations between different variables. Statistical significance was defined as a P-value of less than 0.05.ResultsThe imaging examination demonstrated the most prominent characteristic features of cervical spondylosis: bulge or herniation at C3-C4, C4-C5, and C5-C6. The incidence of cervical spondylosis increased with aging before age 50 years and decreased with aging after age 50 years, especially in the elderly after 60 years old. The occurrence rate of bulge or herniation at C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, and C6-C7 increased with aging before age 50 years and decreased with aging after age 50 years, especially after 60 years. Moreover, the incidence of hyperosteogeny and spinal stenosis increased with aging before age 60 years and decreased with aging after age 60 years, although there was no obvious change in calcification. The age-related risk factors, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cerebral infarct, cardiovascular diseases, smoking, and drinking, have no relationship with the incidence of cervical spondylosis.ConclusionA decreasing proportion of cervical spondylosis with aging occurs in the elderly, while the proportion of cervical spondylosis increases with aging in the young and the adults. This investigation implicates that aging is not only a contributor to the clinical performance of cervical spondylosis in the elderly, although the incidence of cervical spondylosis is proportional to the progress of age.

Cervical instability in cervical spondylosis patients

“…The peak in group II was 10 years earlier than group I, suggesting that neck symptoms persist for a quite extended period before the cervical spondylosis occurs, which is consistent with the literature [14]. It indicates that cervical degeneration is a long and gradual process.…”

The prevalence and associated factors of symptomatic cervical Spondylosis in Chinese adults: a community-based cross-sectional study

“…This may eventually cause compression of the nerve roots and spinal cord [ 1 ]. Numbness, weakness, and tingling in the neck and/or arms, pain in the neck and/or arms, neck stiffness, and headaches are the usual symptoms of cervical spondylosis [ 2 ]. According to the reports, pain, numbness, and other symptoms were related to depression and insomnia [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Thunder‐Fire Moxibustion for Cervical Spondylosis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…Age plays a double role in cervical spondylosis development. e morbidity of cervical spondylosis grows with age before 50 years old, while it does the opposite after 50 [4]. As the spine exposed to increasing loads with aging, it may lead to hypertrophy of the facet joints, ligamentum flavum, and posterior longitudinal ligament.…”