Bone Abstracts

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported to adversely affect health related quality of life (HRQoL) also in postmenopausal women without vertebral fracture. To date no data exist in literature about any possible influences of quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) on HRQoL. This study aimed to assess whether QUS parameters at calcaneous may be associated with HRQoL.

In 1812 ambulatory postmenopausal women aged 60 years or over, referred by their family physicians as outpatients for their specialist visit, we measured HRQoL by the quality of life questionnaire of the european foundation for osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) and stiffness index by using QUS at calcaneus (Achilles Express, Lunar-GE).

By grouping the 1812 women on the basis of stiffness index, an highly significant (P<0.001) difference was found for all QUALEFFO-41 domains, but for ‘pain’ and ‘mental status’. Stiffness was inversely correlated (P<0.01) with total QUALEFFO-41 and with all QUALEFFO-41 domains. In stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis Stiffness values were negatively associated with QUALEFFO-41 total score (β=−0.22; 95% CI=−0.24 to −0.16) and all the domains of QUALEFFO-41. The presence of concomitant diseases was associated with a worsening of HRQoL in all domains of QUALEFFO-41 whereas age which was associated with the three domains of physical function, but not with pain and mental function. Finally, the number of pregnancies was significantly associated with a worsening of pain (β=0.50; 95% CI=0.24 to 0.76).

To sum up, in postmenopausal women with no symptoms related to spinal osteoporosis, we found a close relationship between bone status measured by QUS at calcaneus and quality of life assessed by QUALEFFO-41. Also advancing age and concomitant diseases seem to play an important role in the impairment of both bone status and HRQoL. Therefore QUS at calcaneus may have a role in the early strategies to prevent HRQoL impairment and osteoporosis exacerbation.