Obesity Is Associated with Asymptomatic Vertebral Fractures: A Yakumo Study

TL;DR

This study finds that obesity and high body fat are linked to silent spinal fractures in older adults, even when they don't show symptoms.

Contribution

The study identifies body fat percentage as a novel factor associated with asymptomatic vertebral fractures in middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Findings

Participants with asymptomatic vertebral fractures had significantly higher BMI and body fat percentage.

The F group showed higher knee osteoarthritis incidence and joint pain scores compared to the non-VF group.

Logistic regression confirmed body fat percentage as a significant predictor of asymptomatic vertebral fractures.

Abstract

(1) Background: Patients with primary vertebral fracture (VF) are at high risk of re-fracture and mortality. However, approximately two-thirds of patients with VFs receive minimal clinical attention. (2) Methods: The current study aimed to investigate the factors associated with asymptomatic VFs in middle-aged and elderly individuals who underwent resident health examinations. (3) Results: The current study included 217 participants aged > 50 years. VFs were diagnosed based on lateral radiographic images using Genant’s semiquantitative (SQ) method. The participants were divided into non-VF (N; SQ grade 0) and asymptomatic VF (F; SQ grades 1–3) groups. Data on body composition, blood tests, quality of life measures, and radiographic parameters were assessed. A total of 195 participants were included in the N group (mean age, 64.8 ± 7.8 years), and 22 were in the F group (mean age, 66.1 ± 7.9 years). The F group had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), and proportion of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) than the N group. The F group had a significantly higher knee joint pain visual analog scale (VAS) score and painDETECT score than the N group. Logistic regression analysis showed that BF% was associated with asymptomatic VFs. (4) Conclusions: Middle-aged and elderly individuals with asymptomatic VF presented with high BMIs, BF%, and incidence of KOA.

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