A multi-dimensional questionnaire quantifying quality of life in elderly osteoporotic women: the Italian triple-Q osteoporosis study.
OBJECTIVE
In advanced age, the influence of vertebral fractures on quality of life extends well beyond the usual sequelae of osteoporosis. In order to intercept older subjects' distress associated with the clinical, functional, social and psychological consequences of the disease, we developed and validated a multidimensional instrument (the triple-Q questionnaire) tailored to older women with osteoporotic fractures. We also examined specific aspects of the questionnaire correlated with bone mineral density.


METHODS
100 osteoporotic women with vertebral fractures and 100 controls aged >65 years, underwent a thorough examination, which also included X-ray of the thoraco-lumbar spine, hip densitometry, the triple-Q questionnaire, and five referral instruments evaluating function, cognition, perception of general health, mood and pain.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was repeatable and able to discriminate between older women with and without vertebral fractures. There was a strong association between referral instrument scores and the corresponding single domain score of the questionnaire. Femoral BMD was also associated with scores indicating fear of falling, fear of fracture, and pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The questionnaire intercepted the influence of osteoporosis on the quality of life of elderly women with vertebral fractures. Subjects who suffered from severe pain and were more fearful of falling were most likely to be severely osteoporotic.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. dariomaggio1@tin.it
Dario
D
Maggio
Carmelinda
C
Ruggiero
Sara
S
Ercolani
Maria Carmela
MC
Macchiarulo
Nicola
N
Palmari
Filippo
F
Luccioli
Sonia
S
Andreani
Angela
A
Mariani
Emanuela
E
Costanzi
Antonio
A
Cherubini
Maurizio
M
Luchetti
Elena
E
Zampi
Giuseppe
G
Girasole
Gerolamo
G
Bianchi
Maurizio
M
Rossini
Chiara
C
Cepollaro
Leonardo
L
Sartori
Salvatore
S
Minisola
Stefano
S
Gonnelli
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires