Prevalence and associated factors of vertebral compression fracture among older women with osteoporosis

Abstract Background Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a complication of osteoporosis causing prolonged backpain, reduction in mobility, and death. However, little clinical information is available to understand the VCF in osteoporotic older women. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of VCF in older women with osteoporosis. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 279 older women with osteoporosis at the Rheumatology and Neurosurgery department, and Rheumatology clinic, University Medical Center, from August 2022 to May 2023. Results 102/279 (36.6%) older women had at least one vertebral fracture and more than 50% of participants present as symptomatic. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed age, marital status, physical activity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, ischemic heart disease, frailty, falls, and T-score at femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine associated with VCF. In the adjusted model, only physical activity (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20 – 0.94; p = 0.038), osteoarthritis (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.12 – 0.48; p <0.001), frailty (OR: 7.41; 95% CI: 3.45 – 16.73; p <0.001); falls (OR: 3.86; 95% CI: 1.68 – 9.32; p = 0.002), T-score at femoral neck (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.41 – 0.92; p = 0.002) were associated with vertebral fracture. Conclusions The prevalence of VCF was quite high among older women with osteoporosis, highlighting a disease burden in this population. Physical activity, osteoarthritis, higher T-score at femoral neck decreased odds of VCF while frailty and falls increased odds of VCF.