title: The impact of lumbar scoliosis on pain, function and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women.
abstract: The impact of adult scoliosis on pain, function and health-related quality of life (QOL) has not been clearly defined. A population-based study using widely applied screening tools could better reflect the impact of adult scoliosis. In this study, a visual analog pain scale assessment (VAS) for lumbar and leg pain, an Oswestry disability index (ODI) and a standard version of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire were sent by mail to 261 women of age 50 years and older, consecutively evaluated with dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry (DXA) scan images. 138 patients (32 with lumbar curves 10° or bigger) returned the questionnaires. Differences in lumbar VAS, leg VAS, ODI and SF-36 values between groups of patients with curves <10°, 10°-19° and ≥20° were evaluated. Correlation analyses of the Cobb angle, age and body mass index (BMI) with VAS, ODI and SF-36 values, and multivariate regression analysis were performed. Patients with curves <10°, 10°-19° and ≥20° had no significant differences in lumbar or leg VAS, ODI or SF-36 values. ODI values correlated with age and BMI; SF-36 values correlated with BMI only; lumbar and leg VAS values did not correlate with lumbar curvature, age or BMI. Regression disclosed that Cobb angle values did not influence ODI, SF-36 or VAS values. In postmenopausal women with mild and moderate lumbar curves, Cobb angle had no influence on pain, function and QOL; age and BMI had small effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 352, Santiago, Chile. jurrutia@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Urrutia
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diaz-Ledezma
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabello
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires