Propose: To determine whether depression in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis is associated with an increased risk of thoracolumbar fragility fracture.
Methods: Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and without prior vertebral fracture history who were seen at our institution from January 2006 to January 2010 (n = 1397) were divided into depression group (n = 494) and depression-free group (n = 903). After at least 4 years the incidence of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture was compared between the groups. For those who developed vertebral fracture, quality of life over the subsequent 2 months and fracture pain in the subsequent 2 weeks were compared. Depression was assessed with the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory, pain intensity with the visual analogue scale and quality of life with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Survey.
Results: The incidence of thoracolumbar fractures among women with continuous depression was higher than the group without depression (35.43 vs. 25.14 %, respectively; (P < 0.05). Osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures were associated with significantly lower quality of life scores in women with depression than in those without depression (P < 0.05). Fracture pain was experienced by a higher percentage of patients with continuous depression than by those without depression (44.00 vs. 27.31 %; P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Depression is associated with a higher risk of thoracolumbar fracture, with more fracture pain and with lower quality of life in the 2 months following fracture.
Keywords: Depression; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women; Prospective study; Thoracolumbar fracture.