| Men (n = 2218) | Women (n = 383) | |
| n (%) | n (%) | |
| Age in 2001 (years) | ||
| 48–52 | – | 184 (48.0) |
| 53–57 | 1307 (58.9) | 159 (41.5) |
| 58–62 | 911 (41.1) | 40 (10.5) |
| Height* | 273 (12.3) | 46 (12.0) |
| Factors assessed in 1996: | ||
| BMI† | ||
| Slim | 342 (15.4) | 106 (27.7) |
| Medium | 1174 (52.9) | 217 (56.7) |
| Overweight | 702 (31.7) | 60 (15.7) |
| Present smoker | 388 (17.5) | 52 (13.6) |
| Health | ||
| Cardiovascular disorders | 681 (30.7) | 48 (12.5) |
| Depression | 116 (5.2) | 49 (12.8) |
| Headache | 452 (20.4) | 153 (40.0) |
| Psychosomatic problems | 300 (13.5) | 94 (24.5) |
| Psychosocial factors at work | ||
| High demand | 1092 (49.2) | 209 (54.6) |
| Low decision latitude | 478 (21.6) | 98 (25.6) |
| Low social support | 844 (38.0) | 134 (35.0) |
| Low satisfaction | 524 (23.6) | 64 (16.7) |
| Leisure time activities | ||
| Gardening | 1296 (58.4) | 116 (30.3) |
| Do it yourself activities | 1736 (78.3) | 86 (22.4) |
| Construction activities | 457 (20.6) | 5 (1.3) |
| Driving a car for more than 2 h/day | ||
| Never | 793 (35.8) | 316 (82.5) |
| <10 years | 435 (19.6) | 50 (13.1) |
| 10–20 | 440 (19.8) | 10 (2.6) |
| >20 years | 550 (24.8) | 7 (1.8) |
| Bending/twisting, repeatedly, every day or almost every day | ||
| Never | 724 (32.6) | 199 (52.0) |
| <10 years | 424 (19.1) | 66 (17.2) |
| 10–20 | 452 (20.4) | 55 (14.4) |
| >20 years | 618 (27.9) | 63 (16.4) |
| Usually pushing/pulling/carrying heavy loads (at least once a week) | ||
| Never | 939 (42.3) | 325 (84.9) |
| <10 years | 567 (25.6) | 44 (11.5) |
| 10–20 | 359 (16.2) | 10 (2.6) |
| >20 years | 353 (15.9) | 4 (1.0) |
| Low back pain for at least one day in 1995 | 1248 (56.3) | 195 (50.9) |
| Low back pain for more than 30 days in 1995 | 415 (18.7) | 79 (20.6) |
| Low back pain radiating to the leg in 1995 | 466 (21.0) | 88 (23.0) |
| Low back pain radiating below the knee in 1995 | 215 (9.7) | 39 (10.2) |
| Low back pain for at least one day in 2000 | 1218 (54.9) | 215 (56.1) |
| Low back pain for more than 30 days in 2000 | 335 (15.1) | 71 (18.5) |
| Low back pain radiating to the leg in 2000 | 375 (16.9) | 95 (24.8) |
| Low back pain radiating below the knee in 2000 | 174 (7.8) | 44 (11.5) |
*Men: taller than 180 cm; women: taller than 168 cm.
†Men: slim ⩽23; medium >23–⩽27; overweight >27 kg/m2; women: slim ⩽21; medium >21–⩽27; overweight >27 kg/m2.