Association of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Severe Disability and Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in the Aizu Cohort Study.

STUDY

DESIGN

This prospective cohort study analyzed data from the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in the Aizu Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and severe disability and mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Only a few studies have investigated LSS longitudinally, and the study participants were limited to selected patients diagnosed with LSS during a hospital visit. Additionally, the prognosis of LSS remains unclear.

METHODS

We enrolled independent community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older at the time of a baseline health checkup in 2008. LSS was diagnosed using a validated diagnostic support tool for LSS. The primary endpoint was a composite of severe disability (long-term care insurance certification grade 4 or 5) and mortality. We used 1 minus Kaplan-Meier failure estimates and the log-rank test to compare the interval between baseline and the predetermined endpoint as well as a Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for the LSS group with adjustment for possible confounders. Multiple imputation by chained equations was performed for sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Of 2058 subjects enrolled, 1560 did not have missing covariates; 269 (17%) were diagnosed with LSS. After a median follow-up of 5.8 years, the rates of severe disability and mortality were 0.022 per year in subjects with LSS and 0.012 per year in those without (P = 0.006). The adjusted HR for the composite endpoint in the LSS group was 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.38). A similar association was observed after multiple imputation of missing covariates (adjusted HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.06-2.16]).

CONCLUSION

LSS was associated with severe disability and mortality in community-dwelling older adults. Detection of adults with LSS in the community may contribute to local health promotion.Level of Evidence: 2.