Lumbar Scoliosis in Postmenopausal Women Increases with Age but is not Associated with Osteoporosis

Association between serum β-oestradiol and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women with degenerative lumbar scoliosis

OBJECTIVES

Degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) is an age-related spinal disease. It is an important cause of low back pain, lower limb pain and intermittent claudication, which seriously affects the quality of life of middle-aged and elderly people.

DESIGN

This article aims to study the changes in serum oestrogen levels in postmenopausal women with DLS and its relationship.

PATIENTS

One hundred and sixty-eight postmenopausal women diagnosed with DLS (DLS group) and 140 healthy postmenopausal women (control group) were recruited.

MEASUREMENTS

Lumbar spinal bone mineral density (LSBMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and a chemiluminescence immunoassay analyser was used to detect serum β-oestradiol (E2) levels. The severity of lower back pain was assessed by the visual analogue scale score and dysfunction was evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The quality of life was evaluated by Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Diagnostic efficiency was evaluated by the receiver-operating characteristics curve (ROC).

RESULTS

LSBMD and the level of E2 in the serum in DLS patients were significantly reduced when compared with the control group. The levels of E2 in the serum of postmenopausal women are reliable for predicting DLS revealed by ROC (p < .001). Serum E2 levels were negatively correlated with Cobb angle, VAS and ODI and were positively correlated with LSBMD and SF-36 scores.

CONCLUSIONS

In postmenopausal women, serum E2 levels in DLS patients are significantly reduced and low levels of E2 are associated with lower bone density and poorer quality of life.