Comparison of quality of life according to relevant factors of osteoporotic vertebral fracture in postmenopausal females : a multicenter study

Abstract

The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a skeletal disease characterized by bone quantity decrease and substructure disorder, which results in a higher possibility of bone fracture. The most frequent clinical aspect of osteoporosis is vertebral fracture, of which pain and after effects usually change the way of life. The medical expenses of these patients are increasing annually. It is reported that vertebral compression fractures accompanying osteoporosis happen among 25% of females over 70, and 50% of females over 80. Furthermore, vertebral compression fracture can cause vertebral body deformity or increase the angle of vertebral kyphosis drastically; such effects can cause continuous pain, as well as serious inconvenience and disability. In this nationwide, observational, and cross-sectional epidemiology study in Korea, we continuously recruited postmenopausal females between 50 and 80 years old who visited any of 62 orthopaedic offices at university, general, and private hospitals. We analyzed and compared the quality of life (EQ-5D index) according to fracture, the number of fractured vertebral bodies, history of falls, and bone density. The average age of the subjects was 63.2, and the average age at the time of menopause was 48.8. The average age of the subjects with a fracture was 65.8 and their EQ-5D index was 0.787; for subjects, without fracture, the average age was 61.3, and the EQ-5D index was 0.825. The EQ-5D index of the patients with fracture yet without fracture history was 0.805, while that of the patients with a history was 0.750. Also, depending on the number of fractures, the EQ-5D index was 0.825, 0.793, 0.807, 0.760, and 0.778 for no fracture, one, two, three, and four fractures, respectively.The EQ-5D index decreased with age after menopause, the number of fractured vertebral bodies, and an increase in the number of falls. Through early diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, we expected a decrease in the number of vertebral fractures and an increase in the quality of life.