Health-related quality of life with vertebral fracture, lumbar spondylosis and knee osteoarthritis in Japanese men: the ROAD study

Abstract

This study examined associations of VFx, lumbar spondylosis and knee OA with QOL in 767 men over 40 years old from the ROAD study (mean, 69.7 years.). Multiple regression analysis showed VFx and knee OA as significantly associated with lower PCS scores, but lumbar spondylosis was not. Little data have been accumulated regarding associations of vertebral fracture (VFx), lumbar spondylosis and knee osteoarthritis (OA) with quality of life (QOL) in men. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the impact of these diseases on QOL parameters such as the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 8 (SF-8) and the EuroQOL (EQ-5D). In addition, to provide greater insight into the magnitude of QOL loss, a comparison was made with cerebral stroke. From the 3,040 participants in the ROAD study, this study analyzed 767 men over 40 years who had completed the questionnaires (mean, 69.7 years.). Vertebral fracture was assessed by lateral radiography of the lumbar spine. Lumbar spondylosis and knee OA were defined as Kellgren/Lawrence grade ≥3. Cerebral stroke was assessed by self-report. Multiple regression analysis after adjustments for age, body mass index and presence of the above four diseases showed VFx was significantly associated with lower scores in physical function (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP) and vitality (VT) domains as well as physical component summary (PCS). Knee OA were significantly associated with lower scores in PF, RP, BP and PCS scores. Lumbar spondylosis was not associated with any domains of the SF-8. Lumbar spondylosis and knee OA were significantly associated with EQ-5D utility scores, but VFx was not. The impact for VFx on BP, VT and PCS scores was larger than cerebral stroke. This study revealed that VFx and knee OA impaired physical QOL in men, rather than lumbar spondylosis.