QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES IN WOMEN WITH VERTEBRAL FRACTURES DUE TO OSTEOPOROSIS

Objective. To learn about the physical, emotional, and social limitati ons experienced by postmenopausal women who have back pain due to vert ebral fractures resulting from osteoporosis. Methods. We conducted a c ross-sectional survey of female patients with persistent pain due to v ertebral fractures. Results. Respondents had a mean (+/-SD) bone densi ty of 0.87 +/- 0.13 gm/cm2 and a mean (+/-SD) of 2.84 +/- 2.18 fractur es. Disability was identified in pain, movement, activities of daily l iving, and emotion. There was a poor correlation between quality of li fe and findings on radiography or densitometry. Conclusion. To evaluat e the effects of osteoporosis on a patient's functional status, direct questioning is required.