The present article performs a secondary data analysis of the 2003 telephone health survey (GSTel03), which included members of the general German population suffering from acute back pain (n, 1849) or who had high pain intensity data (n, 1813). Bivariate tests (χ2) and multivariate analysis were performed and the adjusted relative risks were calculated with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. With regard to the prevalence of acute back pain, significantly increased risk was associated with female gender, previous diseases, smoking, low social level and physical impairment in the daily workplace. As far as intensity was concerned, age, sex, depression, body mass index, smoking and physical impairment at work were identified as risk factors. Men and in particular women from low social backgrounds with previous psychological and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as older overweight women with depressive tendencies, should be addressed with regard to secondary and tertiary prevention.