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Degenerative lumbar scoliosis in Chinese Han population: prevalence and relationship to age, gender, bone mineral density, and body mass index

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) in Chinese Han population, as well as its correlation with age, gender, bone mineral density (BMD), and body mass index (BMI); and to determine factors that might affect the curve severity.

Methods

A prospective study was performed on adults visiting the dual-energy X-ray absorption clinics for physical examination from January 2011 to March 2012. 2,395 subjects aged older than 40 years and having no history of previous spinal trauma, surgeries or scoliosis, were enrolled in this study. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent variables related to the presence of scoliosis. Besides, the relationship between curve severity and these variables was also analyzed with partial linear correlation analysis.

Results

The prevalence of DLS was approximately 13.3 %. The logistic regression analysis showed that age, T score, and gender all had remarkable correlation with the occurrence of DLS, with the odd ratios being 4.2, 1.5, and 1.6, respectively. According to the receiver operating characteristics curve, the best dividing point for age and T score of female subjects was 65 and −2.0, respectively. Partial linear correlation analysis indicated that there existed no obvious correlation between the above variables and the severity of scoliosis.

Conclusion

The prevalence of DLS in Chinese Han population aged older than 40 years was approximately 13.3 %, which had a significant correlation with age, gender, and BMD. Osteopenia, gender of female, and aged older than 65 years could contribute to the presence of DLS. The curve severity was not associated with age, gender, BMI, or BMD.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Public Health Benefit Research Foundation, China (Grant No. 201002018).

Conflict of interest

No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road 321, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Leilei Xu, Xu Sun, Shushu Huang, Zezhang Zhu, Jun Qiao, Feng Zhu, Saihu Mao, Yitao Ding & Yong Qiu

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  1. Leilei Xu
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  2. Xu Sun
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  3. Shushu Huang
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  4. Zezhang Zhu
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  6. Feng Zhu
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  7. Saihu Mao
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  8. Yitao Ding
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  9. Yong Qiu
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Correspondence to Yong Qiu.

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Xu, L., Sun, X., Huang, S. et al. Degenerative lumbar scoliosis in Chinese Han population: prevalence and relationship to age, gender, bone mineral density, and body mass index. Eur Spine J 22, 1326–1331 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2678-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2678-8

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