Osteoporotic vertebral fractures morbidity during social isolation on COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on healthcare systems. Osteoporotic vertebral fractures and social isolation have a significant morbidity in our setting. Objectives: to characterize the morbidity of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and evaluate a potential relationship between morbidity and the level of social isolation secondary to the pandemic. Material and methods: observational, analytical and cross-sectional study. Results: forty-five adults were included. Fractures were mostly lumbar with a history of over 3 months. Thirty-five percent (35%) had been followed-up, 48% had been treated for osteoporosis and 48% had previous documented fractures. Forty-six percent (46%) reported lack of accessibility to healthcare. Social isolation was measured using Gijón’s social-familial evaluation scale, which showed a good situation in 75% of cases and an intermediate/severe social deterioration in 24%. According to the Oswestry index, disability was minimal/moderate in 66% of cases and severe or worse in 33%. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), with a score greater than 5 recorded in 57% of patients. When comparing the group with a good social-familial situation vs. the group with intermediate/severe social deterioration, differences were found in multiplicity of fractures (p 0.030), hypovitaminosis D (p 0.045) and lack of accessibility (p 0.029). No differences were found in disability and pain. Conclusion: the group with higher levels of isolation exhibited more severe disease in terms of multiplicity of fractures and hypovitaminosis D, which might suggest an association between social isolation secondary to the pandemic and morbidity due to vertebral fractures.