Effect of Lumbar Spine Osteoarthritis on Bone Mineral Density and Diagnosis of Osteoporosis in Old Men and Women

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) independently influences bone and cardiovascular health. A significant number of patients have a significant decrease in bone mineral density, a high risk of fracture, and a significant increase in the associated morbidity and mortality. Objective: This paper aimed to analyse the effect of lumbar spine osteoarthritis on bone mineral density and the diagnosis of osteoporosis in old men and women. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study were conducted for patients suffering from osteoporosis in the lumbar spine, which were collected from different hospitals in Iraq for a period between January 6, 2022, to September 26, 2023, which included 85 patients whose ages ranged between 50 – 80 years. This study measured the bone mass density (BMD) of patients using dual-energy X-ray (DXA) of the lumbar spine (L1 – L4). In addition, a general assessment of the patient’s bone health was conducted in terms of pain rate and the patient’s quality of life. Results: Clinical results showed that those between the ages of 70 and 80 years had the highest incidence of osteoporosis in the spine, which amounted to 33 cases, as the percentage of osteoporosis in the spine reached 60% compared to female patients, which was 40%. The most prominent accompanying disease is high blood pressure. Blood by 81.36%, chronic kidney disease by 67.80%, and obesity by 84.75%, as well as the percentage of patients. Our study also found the most prominent causes of osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine, where the common causes were rheumatoid arthritis in 30 patients and repetitive pressure on the spine. In 17 patients, our study conducted a bone density test to screen for osteoporosis in patients with lumbar vertebrae (L1–L4). This result ensured that all lumbar vertebrae (L1-LL4) had osteoporosis, which decreased due to low bone density. As specified in L2 as 0.772, L1 as 0.832, L3 as 0.768, and L4 as 0.904. Conclusion: Osteoporosis in the lumbar spine has a negative impact, which causes a significant decrease in mineral density, which impairs the integrity of the spine and the bone health quality of life in elderly patients in the long term