The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by osteoporosis of the spine:
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)
- Limitation of cardiac function due to fractures in the thoracic spine.
- Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)
- Coronary artery disease (CAD; coronary artery disease).
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Limitation of mobility due to bone fractures and pain.
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)
- Fear of falling again and pain
- Depression due to immobility or lack of independence
Injury, poisoning, and certain other sequelae of external causes (S00-T98).
- Fractures (broken bones):
- Typical fractures in postmenopausal (“occurring after menopause“) osteoporosis: vertebral fracture/vertebral body fractures; distal radius fracture (fracture of the radius near the wrist) (most common fracture).
- Typical fractures in senile (“age-related”) osteoporosis: fractures of the long tubular bones; femoral neck fracture (most common fracture).
Note: According to the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, less than 15% of all new-onset vertebral fractures are diagnosed in men. Although they are detected radiologically late, they are often noticeable beforehand by back pain and activity limitations.
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- Immobilization
- Social isolation
Prognostic factors for fractures
- Postmenopausal woman have increased fracture risk after gaining or losing significant weight
- Age
- Nicotine
- Immobility
- Underweight (BMI < 20 kg/m2)
- Multiple falls
- Vertebral body fracture (atraumatic)
- Peripheral fracture
- Fracture near the hip joint in the parents
- Bone density (DXA)
