Life Expectancy Following Diagnosis of a Vertebral Compression Fracture

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The life expectancy of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) patients was evaluated as a function of their treatment. Compared to non-operated patients, the kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty patient cohort had 115% and 44% greater adjusted life expectancy, respectively. Kyphoplasty patients had a 34% greater adjusted life expectancy than vertebroplasty patients. Balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of painful VCFs. This comparative effectiveness study characterized the life expectancy of VCF patients as a function of their treatment. Life expectancy of VCF patients in the 100% U.S. Medicare dataset (2005–2008) was estimated using a parametric Weibull survival model (adjusted for comorbidities), and compared between operated and non-operated patients as well as between kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty patients. A total of 858,978 patients with a newly diagnosed VCF were identified, including 119,253 kyphoplasty patients (13.9%) and 63,693 vertebroplasty patients (7.4%). Adjusted life expectancy was 85% greater for operated than non-operated patients (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 82–89%). Compared to non-operated patients, the kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty patient cohort had 115% (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 111–119%) and 44% (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 42–47%) greater adjusted life expectancy, respectively. Kyphoplasty patients had a 34% greater adjusted life expectancy than vertebroplasty patients (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 31–36%). Across all gender–age groups, the median life expectancy predicted by the parametric Weibull model was 2.2–7.3 years greater for operated than non-operated patients. Statistically significant and substantial differences in life expectancy were observed between the treated and non-treated cohorts in the Medicare population. Among the treated cohorts, patients in the vertebroplasty group experienced less of a survival benefit than those who received kyphoplasty. The results will be a useful basis for future cost effectiveness studies of VCF treatments for the Medicare population.