Historical height loss, vertebral deformity, and health-related quality of life in Hiroshima cohort study

Abstract

Height loss and vertebral deformity had independent effects on health-related quality of life evaluated by the European quality-of-life five-domain questionnaire (EQ-5D) in a cohort of 2,021 elderly Japanese men and women. Height loss aggravated EQ-5D more strongly than vertebral deformity in all domains, with different patterns.

Introduction: Vertebral deformity reduces the activities of daily living and quality of life, and elevates mortality. Height loss is taken to be a sign of vertebral deformity, although other factors could also cause height loss. In this study, we examined the difference in EQ-5D between elderly with height loss and with vertebral deformity.

Methods: The subjects were 2,021 men and women aged 57-101 years from the Hiroshima Cohort who underwent health examinations in 2002-03 and responded to the EQ-5D. Vertebral deformity was assessed semi-quantitative methods using lateral chest and spine radiographs. Height was measured during the routine biennial examinations, which have been conducted since 1958. We used linear regression analyses, ordered polytomous logistic regression analyses, and Bonferroni tests.

Results: Eighty three men and 314 women had prevalent vertebral deformity. The mean height loss was 2.2 cm for men and 3.9 cm for women. Height loss > or =4 cm (P < 0.01) and vertebral deformity (P = 0.04) were independent risk factors for low EQ-5D scores, after adjustment for sex and age.

Conclusions: The present study showed that height loss and vertebral deformity affected EQ-5D significantly and independently in the elderly.