The Quality of Life in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and the Impact of Falling

Introduction. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures and secondary morbidity, which can significantly impair the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Objective. To analyse the HR-QoL in a group of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis compared to an age-matched group of women without osteoporosis and to assess the impact of falling and fractures. Methods. The study group consisted of 92 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The control group consisted of 68 age-matched women without osteoporosis. We assessed the HR-QoL using both a generic (EQ-5D) and a disease-specific [the osteoporosis assessment questionnaire (OPAQ)] QoL instrument. The serum concentration of 25 hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) was measured by electrochemiluminiscence. Fragility fractures and falling episodes status was assessed. Results. Vitamin D (VD) deficiency was markedly prevalent in both groups (68% of all women had serum 25OHD concentrations <20 ng/ml). The patients with osteoporosis had significantly worse scores on bodyimage and pain, borderline significance for lower visual assessment score (VAS). In the osteoporotic group, patients with falling episodes in the previous year had worse scores for the fear of falling, bodyimage and global QoL. If corrected for the falls number, the number of prevalent fractures was not significantly correlated to any of the QoL items. Conclusions. Women with postmenopausal osteoporosis have impaired HR-QoL compared to agematched women. The presence of a positive falling history is particularly associated with affected QoL subscores.