Effect of vertebral fracture on health related quality of life in a Spanish population older than 54 years

BACKGROUND: Effect of vertebral fracture on the perceived health using the SF-36 Health Questionnaire in a representative population older than 54 yea rs. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Randomly cohort from the register of the city Hall of Oviedo. All the 299 subjects (147 men and 152 women) completed the traduced and validated Spanish SF-36 questionnaire four years after radiologic stud ies were performed to evaluate prevalent vertebral fractures. RESULTS: Vertebral fracture decreased the health related quality of life, p articularly in physical function dimension in males and in mental health di mension in women. This effect was increased when osteopenia was present. CONCLUSIONS: This first study performed in both sexes shows worse perceived health in people with fractures.