The influence of falling and fractures history on the quality of life in postmenopausal women

C. Capatina, M. Carsote, M. Berteanu, C. Poiana

Abstract: The quality of life (QOL) is an important aspect in the management of osteoporotic patients. The aim of our study is to estimate the QOL in postmenopausal women with low versus normal bone mass and to appreciate the impact of falling and fractures history on QOL. About 141 postmenopausal women were recruited from a tertiary endocrinology department. In all patients the vitamin D (VD) status and bone mass density were evaluated. The QOL was evaluated with a generic (EuroQOL) and a disease-specific questionnaire (OPAQ). The patients were divided in two groups: study group S (78 women with osteoporosis or osteopenia) and control group C (63 age-matched cases with normal bone mass). VD deficiency was highly prevalent in all cases (94.3%). OPAQ and the visual assessment scale (VAS) score (EuroQOL) were significantly worse in group S (22.53±6.21 and 68.16±4.61 versus 25.92±5.04 and 73.86±5.84, respectively; p=0.014 and 0.017). In group S, prevalent fractures were associated with decreased OPAQ (73.27±14.77 versus 79.75±12.34; p= 0.038) and patients with positive falling history had significantly affected body image (20.21±5.57 versus 23.38±6.26, p=0.05), fear of falling (26.31±8.54 versus 31.23±5.4, p=0.007) and OPAQ scores (71.64±13.85 versus 78.52±13.75, p=0.03). VD deficiency and positive falling history were identified by the multiple regression analysis as independent predictors for the fear- of- falling. In conclusion, in postmenopausal women, the presence of a low bone mass is associated with impaired global QoL and body image. In these patients, the presence of recurrent falling episodes, fragility fractures and VD deficiency further impairs the QOL.
DOI:10.18643/gieu.2014.151

Keywords: quality of life, postmenopausal women, ossteoporosis, fractures, falling, vitamin D.