Clinical impact of acute symptomatic vertebral fractures in the United States: A patient survey and chart review.

UNLABELLED: This survey of 116 patients aged ≥ 50 years with ≥ 1 confirmed symptomatic vertebral fracture within 36 weeks prior to enrollment showed that pain related to fracture persisted after 24 weeks for a subset of patients and affected activities of daily living. These data emphasize the importance of vertebral fracture prevention.

PURPOSE: To describe pain persistence, severity, and effect on ADLs after symptomatic vertebral fracture.

METHODS

This was an observational cross-sectional survey of patients recruited from 7 United States clinical sites aged ≥ 50 years with ≥ 1 symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fracture diagnosed within the prior 36 weeks. Patients' experience of pain and its impact on ADLs during the past 7 days before the patient survey were evaluated. Data were collected through one-time patient surveys and retrospective medical chart review and analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

Of 116 patients enrolled, most were postmenopausal women (83%), White (92%), and aged ≥ 65 years (83%); 37% were recruited within 12 weeks, 40% within > 12-24 weeks, and 23% within > 24-36 weeks of the symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Fractures were confirmed by x-ray (60%), magnetic resonance imaging (50%), and/or computed tomography scan (37%). Within 12 weeks of a vertebral fracture, pain was reported as constant/steady by 42% of patients. Pain frequency decreased over time, but even among patients with vertebral fracture > 24-36 weeks earlier, > 20% still reported constant/steady pain and > 80% reported at least intermittent pain. Pain severity scores of 7-10 were reported by 44% within 12 weeks, 30% within > 12-24 weeks, and 36% within > 24-36 weeks following the vertebral fracture. The most common movements increasing pain were standing up (55%), bending down (53%), and lifting (42%). ADLs most impacted were housework and walking.

CONCLUSION

In this study, pain related to fracture persisted after 24 weeks and affected ADLs, emphasizing the importance of vertebral fracture prevention and pain management strategies.