Quality of Life Analysis and Smoking Correlation in Symptomatic Spine Osteoarthritis: A Nationwide Health Survey Analysis of an Elderly Population with EQ-5D

OBJECTIVES: To analyze quality of life in people with symptomatic spine osteoarthritis (OA) using the results of a cross-sectional, nationwide survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-5; 2010–2012). After excluding ineligible subjects, the total number of subjects in the study was 8,963, including 4,091 males and 4,872 females. All participants reported disabilities related to spine OA. Plain radiographs of the spine were taken for all participants. RESULTS: Age, sex, smoking, drinking, education, and income level were significantly related to spine OA morbidity (P<0.05). OA morbidity was significantly higher in female ex-smokers (OR; 2.94, P<0.05). Quality of life (EQ-5D: L1~5) was significantly compromised in the group with spine OA compared to the group without spine OA (P<0.05). Overall, LQ 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 domain scores were significantly higher in the group with spine OA (P<0.05). In the group with spine OA, quality of life was reduced on more than three questions for 34.3% of the group (EQ-5D: grade≥2); on two questions, for 18.5% of the group; and on one question, for 11.1% of the group. Mental stress, melancholy, and suicidal thinking were also more common in the group with spine OA (P<0.05). The group with radiographic spine OA but without symptoms did not have compromised EQ-5D scores, whereas the group with radiographic OA and symptoms showed a significantly reduced quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life was significantly reduced in the group with symptomatic spine OA in a large cross-sectional analysis. Physicians should consider quality of life in the treatment of patients with spine OA