BACKGROUND: @entity1 with @entity615 radiating to the leg(s) report worse symptoms and poorer recovery than those with @entity615 alone. Robust evidence regarding their epidemiological profile is lacking from primary care, the setting where most of these @entity1 will present and be managed. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of @entity1 with back and leg @entity158 , including sciatica, seeking treatment in primary care. METHODS: Adults visiting their general practitioner with back and leg @entity158 , of any duration and severity, were invited to participate. @entity1 completed questionnaires, underwent clinical assessments and received MRI scans. Characteristics of the sample are described, and differences between @entity1 diagnosed with referred leg @entity158 and those with sciatica are analysed. RESULTS: Six hundred nine @entity1 participated; 62.6  % were female, mean (SD) age 50.2 (13.9). 67.5  % reported @entity158 below the knee, 60.7  % were in paid employment with 39.7  % reporting time off work. Mean disability (RMDQ) was 12.7 (5.7) and mean @entity158 intensity was 5.6 (2.2) and 5.2 (2.4) for back and leg respectively. Mean sciatica bothersomeness index (SBI) was 14.9 (5.1). Three quarters (74.2  %) were clinically diagnosed as having sciatica. In the sciatica group, leg @entity158 intensity, @entity9 , @entity158 below the knee, @entity158 , SBI and positive MRI findings were significantly higher as compared to @entity1 with referred leg @entity158 . CONCLUSIONS: This primary care cohort reported high levels of disability and @entity158 . This is the first epidemiological study of unselected primary care @entity1 seeking healthcare for back and leg @entity158 . Follow-up of this cohort will investigate the prognostic value of their baseline characteristics. This new information will contribute to our understanding of the characteristics and clinical features of this population, and will underpin future research aimed at defining prognostic subgroups to enable better targeting of health care provision.

Characteristics of XXXX with low back and leg pain seeking treatment in primary care: baseline results from the ATLAS cohort study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'Participants'] @entity615 :: ('MESH:D001416', 'Disease') :: ['back pain'] @entity9 :: ('MESH:D009437', 'Disease') :: ['neuropathic pain'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['leg pain worse than back pain', 'pain']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
