Evaluation of the quality of life of postmenopausal osteoporotic and osteopenic women with or without fractures

INTRODUCTION Most studies concerned with the quality of life (QoL) of women with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) focus on patients with vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Our objective was to evaluate QoL among patients with reduced BMD regardless of their fracture history compared to women with normal BMD. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-five patients in the study group were classified as osteoporotic, with BMD results measured by densitometry and expressed by T-score ≤ -2.5 SD, 122 women were osteopenic, with -2.5 < T-score ≤ -1.0 SD, and 97 subjects were assessed as normal, with T-score > -1.0 SD. Mean ages of women according to groups were 59.90, 57.67 and 55.68, respectively. Assessment of life quality was conducted using the Polish version of the QUALEFFO-41 scale. RESULTS The ratings in the assessment (QUALEFFO-41) of QoL were lower for osteoporotic and osteopenic women than for the normal BMD group with regard to pain (p = 0.006), social function (p = 0.001), health perception (p = 0.001), and mental function (p = 0.001). For total QUALEFFO-41 the associated factors were: secondary and higher education (OR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.29-0.82), self-perceived deformity of the back (OR = 4.09; 95% CI: 1.88-8.93), previous fractures (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.09-5.82), reduced height (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.13-5.39) and anxiety (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.21-1.66). CONCLUSIONS It seems necessary to evaluate QoL of women with reduced BMD before fractures occur, to aid development of health education aiming to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis and prevent fractures.