Abstract
BackgroundPersons with vertebral fracture may have reduced pulmonary function, but this association has not been much studied. The aim of this cross-sectional study was therefore to examine the relationship between vertebral fracture and pulmonary function in a general, elderly population.MethodsVertebral morphometry was used for vertebral fracture assessment in 2132 elderly men (n = 892) and women (n = 1240) aged 55 to 87 years in the population-based Tromsø Study 2007–08. Pulmonary function was examined by spirometry. Pulmonary function was expressed as FVC% predicted, FEV1% predicted, and FEV1/FVC% predicted values, adjusted FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC, and obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment. Vertebral fracture was classified according to appearance, number, severity, and location of fractures. Associations were analyzed using general linear and logistic models.ResultsFVC% predicted and FEV1% predicted values were not associated with vertebral fracture (P > 0.05), whereas FEV1/FVC% predicted ratio was associated with both prevalent fracture, number of fractures, severity of fractures, and fracture site in men (P < 0.05), but not in women. When FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC values were adjusted for multiple covariates, we found no significant association with vertebral fracture. Obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment was not associated with prevalent vertebral fracture.ConclusionsIn conclusion, this study did not confirm any clinically relevant associations between prevalent vertebral fracture and ventilatory impairment in elderly individuals.
Highlights
Persons with vertebral fracture may have reduced pulmonary function, but this association has not been much studied
Much attention has been directed toward the negative outcomes of hip fractures [6]; vertebral fractures are associated with increased morbidity [7] and mortality [8,9,10]
Multiple adjusted Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC values When FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC values were adjusted for multiple covariates, we found no significant associations with prevalent vertebral fracture, number of fractures, fracture site or severity
Summary
Persons with vertebral fracture may have reduced pulmonary function, but this association has not been much studied. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between vertebral fracture and pulmonary function in a general, elderly population. Previous patient-control data provide some evidence for an association between vertebral fracture or other measures of kyphosis and pulmonary function [11,14,15,16,17]. A recent systematic review including four case–control studies concluded that patients with vertebral fracture demonstrate a modest reduction in pulmonary measures, evidence for an association is limited [11]. We examined whether presence of vertebral fracture was associated with measures of pulmonary function in a larger, general population of elderly men and women
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