Abstract
BackgroundThis pilot study explores whether large adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves (≥ 45°) lead to decreased frequency and quality of sport participation, lower health-related quality of life (HRQL), and more pronounced shortness of breath (SOB) as compared to smaller curvatures (< 45°).MethodsPatients were divided into two groups based on their spinal curvature: Cobb angle < 45° (n = 31) and ≥ 45° (n = 21). We assessed feasibility outcomes including agreement to be approached, participation, recruitment rates and missing data. All participants completed five questionnaires to assess the frequency and quality of sport participation, HRQL and SOB outcomes. Estimates of effects 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.ResultsThis study enrolled 52 surgically untreated AIS patients between the ages of 10 and 18 (44 females, 8 males, mean age = 14.60). All feasibility threshold criteria were successfully met (100% agreement to be approached, 100% participation with n ≥ 12 in each group, and 94.2% of patients without missing data). AIS patients with large curvatures (≥ 45°) trended towards decreased frequency and quality of sport participation, more pronounced SOB and worse HRQL outcomes, as compared to patients with smaller curve sizes.ConclusionThe study findings show that a study addressing sport participation in the setting of AIS is feasible. The size of curvature in AIS may have an impact on sport participation, HRQL and SOB, but larger studies are required.
Highlights
This pilot study explores whether large adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves (≥ 45°) lead to decreased frequency and quality of sport participation, lower health-related quality of life (HRQL), and more pronounced shortness of breath (SOB) as compared to smaller curvatures (< 45°)
Many uncertainties exist regarding the feasibility of conducting a large-scale study exploring the magnitude of AIS curve size on sport participation and health outcomes
Little research has been published on this research question, and there is a lack of scoliosis-specific questionnaires that measure the outcomes of interest
Summary
This pilot study explores whether large adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves (≥ 45°) lead to decreased frequency and quality of sport participation, lower health-related quality of life (HRQL), and more pronounced shortness of breath (SOB) as compared to smaller curvatures (< 45°). AIS literature has primarily focused on the impact of the disease on respiratory and health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes. Curve magnitude is of particular importance in AIS as it dictates the severity of the condition. Studies conducted on AIS patients have demonstrated that a large curvature is implicated in increasing shortness of breath (SOB) and worsening HRQL outcomes such as pain and self-image concerns [4,5,6,7,8]. Other studies have shown that curve magnitude had no effect on HRQL [9, 10]
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