Quality of life issues in women with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis

OBJECTIVE: To learn about the physical, emotional, and social limitations experienced by postmenopausal women who have back pain due to vertebral fractures resulting from osteoporosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of female patients with persistent pain due to vertebral fractures. RESULTS: Respondents had a mean (+/- SD) bone density of 0.87 +/- 0.13 gm/cm2 and a mean (+/- SD) of 2.84 +/- 2.18 fractures. Disability was identified in pain, movement, activities of daily living, and emotion. There was a poor correlation between quality of life and findings on radiography or densitometry. CONCLUSION: To evaluate the effects of osteoporosis on a patient's functional status, direct questioning is required.