engleski

Vertebral osteophytosis and vertebral deformities in elderly population of Zagreb

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between osteoarthritis and incidence of vertebral deformities. SUBJECTS: 263 men and 280 women, population sample, Zagreb inhabitants, over the age of 45. The mean age of men was 60.2 +/- 9.3 years and 61.9 +/- 10.4 years for women. METHODS: lateral radiographs of thoracal and lumbar spine were obtained. The degree of osteophyte formation at each vertebra level was scored using a scale of 0 to 4 (0=none;4=bridging osteophyte) and the total score was calculated for the whole spine. Vertebral deformities were detected by comparison of intra- and intervertebral height ratios to sex-matched normal ranges. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to severe osteophytosis (total score >10) was 25.5% in men and 30.0% in women. In both sex, the prevalence increased with age, from those less than 55 years old (7.8% men; 34.6% women) to those aged 75 years of more ( 50.0% men; 43.3% women), but the increase was statistically significant only in men(p>0.0001). The prevalence of vertebral deformities was 8.4% in men and 12.5% in women. There was no significant association between vertebral deformities and the presence of osteophytosis (X2=1.44 in men; X2=0.02 in women). Moderate to severe osteophytosis was also not associated with the presence of vertebral deformities (X2=0.04 in men;X2=0.35 women). In younger age groups, the prevalence of vertebral deformities in those with moderate to severe osteophytosis was bigger in women (4.9% women;/ men), while in older age groups (75+ years) the prevalence was higher in men (14.3% men; 6.7% women). CONCLUSION: our data showed that osteophytosis was not associated with an increased prevalence of vertebral deformities. The results suggest the inverse relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

osteophytes; vertebral deformities; epidemiology

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