The epidemiology of hyperostosis of the spine together with its symptoms and related mortality in a general population.

The prevalence rate of hyperostosis, defined as the presence of complete bony bridges linking two vertebrae in at least two separate sites in the dorsal spine, was studied in a sample of some 9 000 persons who were 40 years of age or older and were representative of the general population of Finland. The standardized rates of hyperostosis were 3.8% for men and 2.6% for women. The prevalence rates rose sharply with age, and depending on the age group, the male-female ratio varied between 1.4 and 2.1. The adjusted rate of hyperostosis was higher in East Finland than elsewhere. There was a suggestion of hyperostosis being associated with a higher mortality rate as judged by regional variations and by analysis of matched case-controled pairs. There was no evidence that locomotor symptoms occurred in excess in subjects with hyperostosis; nor was prior traumatic experience more common.