OBJECTIVES:

Vertebral fractures are a common complication of osteoporosis and cause chronic back pain, physical incapacitation and functional impairment that lead to worsened the quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct the systematic evaluation of health related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures using Evaluating Measures of Patient Reported Outcomes (EMPRO) tool.

METHODS:

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/Medline and Web of Science to retrieve all the English articles which identify HRQoL instrument in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture. The search has been restricted from January 01, 2008 to February 28, 2018. The quality performance of each instruments were assessed by using the EMPRO tool. An overall seven attribute-specific EMPRO scores were ranges from (0-100), worst to best.

RESULTS:

Of 1135 identified articles, total 14 studies fulfill the inclusion criteria. Among all 9 different PROs; Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-100), assessment of health-related quality of life in osteoporosis (ECOS-16), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36, 12), EuroQol five dimensions’ questionnaire (EQ-5 D), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), European quality of life-Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) instruments were used to assess the HRQoL among osteoporotic vertebral fracture. The ECOS-16 and QUALEFFO-41 were reported the best rated instrument, with over all EMPRO scores were 89.8 and 79.16 respectively. These are reported most accurate instrument on the Concept and Measurement Model, Reliability, validity and Interpretability attributes. Whereas, EQ-VAS and ODI were scored the minimal threshold of overall EMPRO score (52.77 and 51.88, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

The current evidences support ECOS-16 followed by QUALEFFO-41 could be the best instrument to measure the HRQoL among osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Further studies need to standardized the disease specifying HRQoL instrument in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.