Prevalence of vertebral fractures in 85-year-olds. Radiographic examination of 462 subjects.

Radiographic examinations for the presence of vertebral fracture between Th4-L5 were performed in a random sample of 85-year-old women (n 304) and men (n 158) who participated in a longitudinal population study. A moderate vertebral fracture was defined as an anterior/posterior vertebral height ratio of 0.66 or less. A severe vertebral fracture was defined as a compression of vertebral height of more than 33 percent both at the anterior and posterior edges compared to the posterior edge of the adjacent vertebral body. The prevalence of vertebral fractures was 25 percent in women and 13 percent in men. The ratio between moderate and severe grades of vertebral fracture was 1.5 for women and 2.1 for men. The most common site for vertebral fracture was L1 in women and Th12 in men. Women with vertebral fracture at 85 years of age had more back pain.