The data on cervical neck pain shows that hospital discharges are rare in people below age 18 years. When adjusted for the US 2010 census population, estimates for hospital discharges are highest in the 75 years and older age group. The average age for persons hospitalized for neck problems was 58.7 years. Emergency Department visits occurred more frequently in those below 44 years with an average age of 37.9 years. Hospital outpatient and physician office patients were on average 50.2 years and 51.0 years old, respectively. (Reference Table 2.3.2 PDF CSV)

Almost four of five neck pain diagnoses (76.5%) in 2010 occurred in persons between ages of 18 and 64 years, the age group representing 63% of the US population. Almost one in five patients (19%) were older than 65 years, and only 4.2% were younger than 18 years of age although this group represents 24% of the US population. Cervical disorders dominated among total health care visits for neck and cervical spine disorders in all age groups, representing from 53% in the 18- to 44-year age group to 90% of all visits in the 65- to 74-year age group. A proportionately larger number of neck injuries (42%) occurred in the below-18-year age group. Adjusted for the population distribution, persons between 45 and 64 years had the highest rate of cervical/neck pain, followed closely by those age 75 years and older. (Reference Table 2.3.2 PDF CSV)

Females accounted for 55% of the health care visits for neck pain in 2010, primarily because 57% of the 315,100 visits for cervical disorders were for females. Males accounted for a greater proportion of visits for the less frequent cervical disc disorder and neck injury visits. (Reference Table 2.3.1 PDF CSV)