Türk Osteoporoz Dergisi (Dec 2011)

The Impact of Vertebral Fractures on Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

  • Hakan Nur,
  • N. Füsun Toraman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4274/tod.96158
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 3
pp. 81 – 84

Abstract

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Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of vertebral fractures on quality of life in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Material and Methods: 158 postmenopausal women were included in this study. Lumbar spine and proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Dorsal and lumbar lateral radiographs were taken to evaluate vertebral fractures. Anterior, middle and posterior segment heights were measured and the vertebra having 20 percent height loss compared to neighboring vertebra was accepted to be fractured. Quality of life was evaluated using the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation of Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO). The patients were divided into three subgroups as osteopenia, osteoporosis without vertebral fracture and osteoporosis with vertebral fracture according to BMD and vertebral fracture status. Results: Age and duration of menopause of the group with vertebral fracture were significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.01). Lumbar spine, femoral neck and total t scores in the osteoporosis and osteoporosis with vertebral fracture groups were lower than those in the osteopenia group (p<0.01). In the assessment of quality of life, physical function, general health perception, mental function and total QUALEFFO scores in the group with vertebral fracture were significantly higher than those in the osteopenia group, while the general health perception and total QUALEFFO scores of the same group were significantly higher than those of the osteoporosis group without vertebral fracture (p<0.05). Conclusion: The quality of life of osteoporotic women with vertebral fracture was significantly lower than the osteoporotic women without vertebral fracture and osteopenic women, while there was no significant difference between osteoporotic and osteopenic groups. In postmenopausal osteoporotic women vertebral fractures have more adverse effects on quality of life rather than the changes in BMD. (Turkish Journal of Osteoporosis 2011;17:81-4)

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