Vertebral fractures and their association with health-related quality of life, back pain and physical function in older women

Abstract Background Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures represent a major health burden worldwide, and the prevalence of osteoporosis is expected to increase as the world’s population ages. Suffering from vertebral fracture has a substantial impact on the individual’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical function and pain. Complex health challenges experienced by older people with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures call for identification of factors that may influence HRQoL, as some of these factors may be modifiable. The objective is to examine the independent associations between HRQoL, physical function and pain in older women with osteoporosis and vertebral fracture. Methods This study has a cross-sectional design, using data from 149 home-dwelling Norwegian women with osteoporosis and vertebral fracture, aged 65+. Data on HRQoL (Short Form 36 (SF-36), Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41)), physical function (walking speed, balance and strength), pain, as well as sociodemographic information were collected. Simple linear regression analyses were conducted and multivariable regression models were fitted to investigate the associations. Results Lower levels of HRQoL were significantly associated with lower levels of physical function, measured by walking speed, and higher levels of pain. Pain was significantly associated with all of the subscales in SF-36, with the exception of Mental Health and Mental Component Score, and all the subscales of QUALEFFO-41. Walking speed was significantly associated with 5 of 8 subscales of SF-36 (except Bodily Pain, Vitality, Mental Health and Mental Component Score), and with 4 of 6 subscales of QUALEFFO-41 (except Score Pain and Mood). Conclusion This study shows that pain and walking speed were, independently of one another, associated with HRQoL in older women with osteoporosis and vertebral fracture. These findings can inform clinicians and health managers about the importance of pain management and exercise interventions in health care for this group. Future research should address interventions targeting both physical function and pain with HRQoL as an outcome. Registration ClincialTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02781974. Registered 18.05.16. Retrospectively registered.

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Social isolation, social support and loneliness as independent concepts, and their relationship with health-related quality of life among older women

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607863.2021.1940097 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Rosanne Freak-Poli ◽

Joanne Ryan ◽

Thach Tran ◽

Alice Owen ◽

Joanna McHugh Power ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Women ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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105 Functional Recovery in Older Women Undergoing Surgery for Gynaecological Malignancies: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afz196.07 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i34-i36

Author(s):

F E Martin ◽

T Kalsi ◽

J K Dhesi ◽

J S L Partridge

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Older Women ◽

Functional Recovery ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Gynaecological Malignancies

Abstract Introduction Older women are increasingly undergoing surgery for gynaecological malignancies. Although survival data is available other outcomes such as functional recovery are less well described. However older people are both more vulnerable to changes in function and often prioritise function over survival. There is limited published research examining function outside of context of sexual or urodynamic function following gynaeoncology surgery but a large body or research exists examining health-related quality of life (HrQOL) both as a pre-operative risk factor for survival and as a post-treatment outcome measure in its own right. HRQOL tools may report on physical function as a subcomponent within composite tools. This systematic review and narrative synthesis describes functional recovery after gynae-oncology surgery with respect to baseline characteristics which - if identified – could enable pre- or post-operative risk reduction. Methods Systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and Cochrane Library between 1974-2018. Two reviewers independently reviewed abstracts/papers for inclusion against the following criteria:Mean/median age >60Gynaeoncological treatment includes surgery (RCTs, observational or mixed methods studies).Any measure of functional ability as defined by WHO ICF classification section D1–D7 inclusive, D855, D860-79 and D9 using validated tool.Minimum pre-operative and one post-operative measure. Results analysed and presented using narrative synthesis. Results Sixteen studies identified (7 Endometrial, 2 Ovarian, 2 Vulval, 6 mixed cancer types). 1/16 used a standalone functional assessment tool, 15/16 used Health-Related Quality of Life tools (EORTC QLQ C30 (10), FACT-G (3), SF-36 (3)) comprising items describing function. More studies showed full recovery to baseline (n=11) than incomplete recovery (n=5 including 2 reporting age as a negative association). Recovery was more likely and occurred faster in minimally-invasive surgery. 1 study demonstrated failure to recover baseline functional independence by 12 months.

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