ONTARIO, Canada—Data from a prospective, multinational, observational cohort study published online ahead of print in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings indicate women who had bone fractures in their younger years are more likely to develop osteoporosis in their post-menopausal years, and may also face quality of life problems.
This international study used data from the Global Longitudinal study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW), which involved 57,141 postmenopausal women (aged 55 years and older) from 17 study sites in 10 countries. Researchers assessed health-related quality of life (HRQL) using the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Index (EQ-5D) and the health status, physical function and vitality questions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Results showed nine of 10 fracture types (by location) correlated to HRQL reductions, as reflected in decreased EQ-5D and SF-36 scores. Fractures of the spine, hip, and upper leg were linked to the greatest HRQL declines; women with any of these three fractures, as well as those with multiple fractures, experienced reductions in HRQL that were similar to or worse than those in women with other chronic diseases, including diabetes, arthritis and lung disease.