Patterns of Vertebral Pain Syndromes in Women of Older Age Groups Depending on Duration of Postmenopausal Period and Bone Mineral Density Score

Abstract

The present study analyzes the frequency (prevalence rates) of vertebral pain syndrome (VPS) in 2844 women aged 40–89 years divided into groups based on the reproductive, perimenopausal and postmenopausal (PMP) stages of life and evaluates the relationship between the VPS rates and scores of bone mineral density (BMD). The overall VPS rates range from 84.1 to 94.4% throughout the different physiological stages of woman’s life, with a statistically significant increase in the PMP stage of 20 years duration or longer when compared with the reproductive and early postmenopausal stages. Significant growth of the VPS rates in the thoracic and lumbar regions of spine begins in the first to third years of PMP period (stage); the frequency remains high throughout all subsequent periods of PMP. Postmenopausal women are found to demonstrate a significant increase in the relative risk of developing VPS in the thoracic (1.3- to 1.4-fold) and lumbar (1.2- to 1.3-fold that) regions of the spine. Patients with osteoporosis in 1–3 years of PMP duration display significantly higher rates of VPS in the thoracic spine than women with osteopenia, while patients with 7–9 years of PMP duration have significantly increased rates as compared with groups that include osteopenia and norms. In patients with osteoporosis and no history of vertebral fractures, the VPS prevalence rates in the thoracic spine significantly increase in PMP periods of 4–6 and 7–9 years duration as compared with women in the reproductive stage, as well as in women with normal BMD scores. The identified VPS patterns can be of value in the planning of therapeutic interventions in women of senior age groups.