PCL 5 - Incidence and Prevalence (Gurki)

There is equal male-female distribution.

Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem. It may include exercises, medicines and surgery.

The incidence of sciatica is related to age. Rarely seen before the age of 20, incidence peaks in the fifth decade and declines thereafter. This age distribution was also observed in those presenting for lumbar disc herniation surgery. The incidence of sciatica can increase with age and at age 60 can be as high as 50% for those with low back problems. The odds ratio (OR) of an episode of sciatica increased by 1.4 for every additional 10 yr of age, up to the age of 64.
A cross-sectional study of 2946 women and 2727 men showed neither gender nor body mass had an influence on the development of sciatica, although body mass may have been associated with low back pain.
Recreational activities, such as walking and jogging, may influence incidence of sciatica. Regular walking was shown to almost double the incidence of sciatica in a group of 2077 workers who were pain free at baseline. This study also showed that jogging had a dual effect on the incidence of sciatica. Although joggers who were pain free at baseline had a decreased incidence of sciatica, those with a previous history of sciatica were more likely to experience more episodes.
Physical activity associated with occupation has also been shown to influence incidence of sciatica. Carpenters (OR 1.7) and machine operators (OR 1.6) were shown to be more likely to develop sciatica than sedentary office workers. Retired (OR 0.15) or part-time (OR 0.16) farmers were less likely to develop sciatica than full-time ones. Risk factors identified for sciatica associated with occupation included awkward working position, working in a flexed or twisted trunk position (OR 2.6), or with the hand above the shoulder. Driving is also positively associated with sciatica or lumbar disc herniation. It is possible that driving causes exposure to vibration at around 4–5 Hz which may coincide with resonant frequency of the spine in the seated position and so leading to a direct mechanical effect on the lumbar disc.