# THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PROLAPSED LUMBAR AND CERVICAL DISCS

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE · 1988 · $287,374

## Abstract

This proposal describes case-control studies of the epidemiology of
prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc and prolapsed cervical intervertebral
disc, musculoskeletal conditions accounting for a great deal of disability
and economic cost in the United States.  Putative risk factors of
particular interest include driving of motor vehicles, frequency and
methods of lifting heavy objects and other activities on the present and
previous jobs, frequency and methods of lifting heavy objects other than on
the job, exposure to vibration, and smoking and coughing.  Exposure to
possible risk factors among surgical, probable, and possible cases of each
of these conditions in the age range 20-64 years will be compared to
exposure to possible risk factors among a control group without known
spinal disorders matched to the cases by age, gender, and facility at which
care was sought.  Persons with previous prolapsed discs or other
significant back or neck problems or with symptoms for more than one year
will be excluded from the case and control groups.  Information on
symptoms, exposure to possible risk factors, and demographic variables will
be obtained by means of a structured questionnaire administered by trained
interviewers.  Since the extent of exposure to the risk factors of interest
can be modified, such as by design changes in motor vehicle seats, by
changes in lifting requirements on jobs, and by further education on
optimal methods of lifting both on and off the job, it is hoped that the
results of this study will lead to a decrease in the frequency of
occurrence of prolapsed discs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156970
- **Project number:** 5R01AR034851-03
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** F4N1QNPB95M4
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Kelsey
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $287,374
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-03-01 → 1990-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156970, THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PROLAPSED LUMBAR AND CERVICAL DISCS (5R01AR034851-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156970. Licensed CC0.

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