Background/Purpose: To characterize pain status (frequency, severity, persistency) and effect on activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with symptomatic vertebral fractures (VF).

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, survey of patients age ≥50 years with ≥1 symptomatic osteoporotic VF within the last 36 weeks (wks) confirmed by spine imaging, recruited from July 2022 to August 2023 at 7 clinical sites across the United States. Data were collected through a one-time patient survey and retrospective medical chart review, and analyzed descriptively. Patients described their pain level and pain characteristics.

Results: Of the 116 patients enrolled, most were postmenopausal women (83%), white (92%), and ≥60 years of age (95%); 37% of patients were recruited within 12 wks, 40% within >12-24 wks, and 23% within >24-36 wks of having a symptomatic VF. Index VF was confirmed by x-ray (60%), MRI (50%), and/or CT scan (37%).

As shown in Fig 1A, within the first 12 wks of an acute symptomatic VF, pain was reported as constant/steady by 42% of patients. After 12 wks, the proportion who reported constant/steady pain was lower but still more than 20% in patients who had a VF >24-36 wks earlier; at that time, more than 80% of patients reported at least intermittent pain. 44% reported high pain severity (between 7–10) within the first 12 wks following VF, and 30% and 36% reported high severity at >12-24 wks and >24-36 wks, respectively. The most common movements that increased pain were standing up (55%), bending down (53%), and lifting (42%). In general, patients reported a negative impact of VF on various ADL, with housework and walking being most impacted (Fig 1B).

Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, back pain persisted and affected ADL in the majority of patients after 24 wks. Even >24-36 wks after a VF, 84% of patients experienced constant/steady or periodic/intermittent pain. ADLs that were difficult to complete required movements that patients often reported as precipitating pain. Acknowledging the study limitations of cross-sectional design and small numbers enrolled at different times from VF, particularly in the >24-36-wk group, these data provide insight into the impact of VF on patients and emphasize the importance of VF prevention.

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-impact-of-acute-symptomatic-vertebral-fractures-in-the-united-states-an-observational-study/