OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of thoracic kyphosis is considered to increase as the population is ageing in Japan. However, little is known about the clinical and preventive significance of kyphosis. The purpose of the study is to assess the association of kyphosis with subjective poor health and functional activity in the community-dwelling Japanese elderly. The relation of kyphosis with blood pressure, as a subclinical indicator of arteriosclerosis, is also examined. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 536 (male 241, female 295) elderly persons aged 65 years old and older. Trained examiners measured thoracic kyphosis using a flexicurve, and kyphosis index was calculated. Information on the subjects' subjective poor health and functional activity were collected through a face-to-face interview, and blood pressure was measured by a conventional method. RESULTS: In females, their kyphosis index increased with age increased, whereas in males, there was no clear age-related change. An increased kyphosis index was associated with subjective poor health only among females. Compared with the lowest kyphosis index tertile, adjusted odds ratios for being in poor health were 5.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-27.4) in the middle tertile, and 6.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.3-32.1) in the highest tertile. Kyphosis index did not seem to be associated with functional activity score and blood pressure both in males and females even after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Kyphosis is associated with subjective poor health in the community-dwelling female elderly in this study population, but not with functional activity and blood pressure both in males and females.
OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of thoracic kyphosis is considered to increase as the population is ageing in Japan. However, little is known about the clinical and preventive significance of kyphosis. The purpose of the study is to assess the association of kyphosis with subjective poor health and functional activity in the community-dwelling Japanese elderly. The relation of kyphosis with blood pressure, as a subclinical indicator of arteriosclerosis, is also examined. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 536 (male 241, female 295) elderly persons aged 65 years old and older. Trained examiners measured thoracic kyphosis using a flexicurve, and kyphosis index was calculated. Information on the subjects' subjective poor health and functional activity were collected through a face-to-face interview, and blood pressure was measured by a conventional method. RESULTS: In females, their kyphosis index increased with age increased, whereas in males, there was no clear age-related change. An increased kyphosis index was associated with subjective poor health only among females. Compared with the lowest kyphosis index tertile, adjusted odds ratios for being in poor health were 5.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-27.4) in the middle tertile, and 6.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.3-32.1) in the highest tertile. Kyphosis index did not seem to be associated with functional activity score and blood pressure both in males and females even after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS:Kyphosis is associated with subjective poor health in the community-dwelling female elderly in this study population, but not with functional activity and blood pressure both in males and females.
Authors: Deborah M Kado; Mei-Hua Huang; Arun S Karlamangla; Elizabeth Barrett-Connor; Gail A Greendale Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: B Ettinger; D M Black; M C Nevitt; A C Rundle; J A Cauley; S R Cummings; H K Genant Journal: J Bone Miner Res Date: 1992-04 Impact factor: 6.741
Authors: Thjodbjorg Eiriksdottir; Steinthor Ardal; Benedikt A Jonsson; Sigrun H Lund; Erna V Ivarsdottir; Kristjan Norland; Egil Ferkingstad; Hreinn Stefansson; Ingileif Jonsdottir; Hilma Holm; Thorunn Rafnar; Jona Saemundsdottir; Gudmundur L Norddahl; Gudmundur Thorgeirsson; Daniel F Gudbjartsson; Patrick Sulem; Unnur Thorsteinsdottir; Kari Stefansson; Magnus O Ulfarsson Journal: Commun Biol Date: 2021-06-18