Research Article: Lower preoperative vitamin D levels are associated with poor clinical outcomes in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty
Abstract:
Vitamin D deficiency is common among elderly individuals with osteoporosis; however, its prognostic significance in patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between preoperative vitamin D status and postoperative pain and functional recovery following PVP.
This retrospective study included 609 elderly patients with single-level OVCFs treated with PVP between January 2021 and December 2024. Preoperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were categorized as severe deficiency (<10?ng/mL), deficiency (10–20?ng/mL), insufficiency (20–30?ng/mL), and sufficiency (>30?ng/mL). Pain and function were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) preoperatively, on postoperative day 1, at 1?month, and at 1?year. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) evaluated longitudinal changes, and multivariable regression examined independent associations with 1-year outcomes.
Visual Analog Scale and ODI scores improved significantly over time in all groups (both p <?0.01). However, patients with lower vitamin D levels consistently had higher pain and disability scores at each follow-up. Significant time × group interactions were observed (both p <?0.01). After multivariable adjustment, lower vitamin D status remained independently associated with higher 1-year VAS ( ? =?0.293, 95% CI: 0.230, 0.356, p <?0.01) and higher ODI scores (??=?2.179, 95% CI: 1.854–2.503, p <?0.01).
Lower preoperative vitamin D levels are independently associated with worse postoperative pain relief and functional recovery after PVP in elderly patients with OVCFs.
Introduction:
Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are a major cause of pain, disability, and impaired quality of life among older adults. With rapid population aging, the burden of osteoporotic fractures continues to rise worldwide and has become a significant public health concern ( 1 ). A recent systematic review and meta-analysis reported that the overall prevalence of osteoporotic fractures among Chinese elderly adults increased markedly from 13.2% in 2000–2010 to 22.7% in 2012–2022, with the spine…
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