INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY ON VERTEBRAL DEFORMITY IN MEN AND WOMEN - RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN VERTEBRAL OSTEOPOROSIS STUDY

Physical activity is associated with an increased bone mass and a redu ced risk of hip fracture. There are, however, no data from population samples of men and women concerning the effect of regular levels of ph ysical activity on the risk of vertebral deformity. The aim of this st udy was to determine the relationship between regular physical activit y and vertebral deformity in European men and women. A population surv ey method was used. Thirty-six centers from 19 European countries part icipated. Each center recruited a population sample of men and women a ged 50 years and over. Those who took part received an interviewer-adm inistered questionnaire and lateral thoracolumbar radiographs. Subject s were asked about two dimensions of physical activity: (1) the level of physical activity undertaken either at work or at home on a daily b asis at three different age periods: 15-25 years, 25-50 years, and 50 years; and (2) the amount of time spent walking or cycling out of doo rs each day. Spinal radiographs were evaluated morphometrically and th e presence of vertebral deformity was defined according to the McClosk ey method. In total, 14,261 subjects, aged 50-79 years, from 30 center s were studied, of whom 809 (12.0%) men and 884 (11.7%) women had one or more deformities. After adjusting for age, center, smoking, and bod y mass index, very heavy levels of activity in all three age groups we re associated with an increased risk of vertebral deformity in men (od ds ratios, age adjusted [OR], 1.5-1.7; with all 95% confidence interva ls [CI] excluding unity). No increased risk was observed in women. Cur rent walking or cycling more than 1/2 h/day was associated with a redu ced risk of vertebral deformity in women (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7-1.0). We conclude that regular walking in middle-aged and elderly women is asso ciated with a reduced risk of vertebral deformity. By contrast, heavy levels of physical activity in early and middle adult life are associa ted with an increased risk in men. These differences are of relevance in understanding the epidemiology of vertebral deformity and planning programs of prevention.