Health‐related quality of life and its associated factors among outpatients with osteoporosis

Abstract

Objective The study aim was to evaluate health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and to explore factors associated with poor HRQoL in patients with osteoporosis in Jordan. Methods The validated EQ‐5D questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL in outpatients with osteoporosis at the Royal Medical Services Hospital in Jordan. The EQ‐5D is a standardised instrument that has been widely used in clinical studies for evaluating generic health status. Sociodemographic and medical data were collected using custom‐designed questionnaire and hospital medical files. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to build a model with variables associated with poor HRQoL. Key findings The mean score of the total EQ‐5D index of the 296 participants was 0.620. Most of the participants reported ‘some problems’ through the five dimensions, with the highest percentage (72.3%) related to pain/discomfort domain. Regression analysis identified serum vitamin D level (OR = 0.942; CI = 0.891–0.996), number of current medications (OR = 1.273; CI = 1.015–1.597), having movement restriction (OR = 2.525; CI = 1.131–5.638), having spine kyphosis (OR = 5.746; CI = 1.796–18.386) and the presence of friend or family member to remind the patient to take the medications (OR = 3.364; CI = 1.394–8.114) as being significantly associated with poor HRQoL. Conclusion The HRQoL has considerable scope for improvement in patients with osteoporosis in the present study. Future osteoporosis management programmes should focus on improving HRQoL with specific attention to be given for patients with low serum vitamin D level, patients receiving multiple medications, patients having movement restriction, patients having spine kyphosis and those who have no friend or family member to remind them to take the medication.