Background and aims 
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common chronic pain conditions, affecting 5-10% of people worldwide. Demographics and clinical characteristics of 8,990 patients completing a global (14 country) CLBP survey are presented. 

Methods
Patients (≥18y) with self-reported physician diagnosis of CLBP, recruited via online panels, completed the survey March-May 2019. Data were weighted by sample size, CLBP prevalence and pain severity.

Results: 
115,779 people started the survey, 95,108 failed screening and 6,984 stopped before finishing.  
Data were available for 8,990 patients (mean age 52y; 45% female). Using a 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as you can imagine) numeric rating scale, 41% reported severe (7-10), 49% moderate (4-6) and 10% mild (1-3) pain. 
For severe patients 48% had a degree (mild:55%) and 58% were full/part-time employed (mild:47%).
72% of severe patients were the main income earner (mild:68%); 69% had ≥1 financial dependents (mild:49%). 55% of severe patients started experiencing symptoms ≥5y ago (mild:58%) and 44% diagnosed with CLBP ≥5y ago (mild:51%); on average they were taking 2.1 medications (mild:1.3) for CLBP.
92% of severe patients reported ≥1 co-morbidity (mild:83%), and 23% had a diagnosed psychological condition (mild:13%).
33% of severe patients were registered disabled due to their CLBP (mild:13%), with 15% receiving disability income allowance (mild:4%). 

Conclusion: 
Surveyed CLBP patients were of working age, with over half currently employed. The majority had been suffering pain for at least 5 years, with the most severe taking 2 pain medications to manage their condition.

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN - RESULTS FROM A GLOBAL 8,990 PATIENT SURVEY: CITIZENS' RESEARCH