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Prevalence and risk factors of lumbar spondylolisthesis in elderly Chinese men and women

  • Musculoskeletal
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

A screening survey for osteoporotic fractures in men and women in Hong Kong represents the first large-scale prospective population-based study on bone health in elderly (≥65 years) Chinese men and women. This study aims to identify the prevalence and potential risk factors of lumbar spondylolisthesis in these subjects.

Methods

The lateral lumbar radiographs of 1,994 male and 1,996 female patients were analysed using the Meyerding classification.

Results

Amongst the men, 380 (19.1 %) had at least one spondylolisthesis and 43 (11.3 %) had slips at two or more levels; 283 had anterolisthesis, 85 had retrolisthesis, whereas 12 subjects had both anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis. Amongst the women, 499 (25.0 %) had at least one spondylolisthesis and 69 (13.8 %) had slips at two or more levels; 459 had anterolisthesis, 34 had retrolisthesis, whereas 6 subjects had both anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis. Advanced age, short height, higher body mass index (BMI), higher bone mineral density (BMD) and degenerative arthritis are associated with spondylolisthesis. Lower Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) score was associated with spondylolisthesis in men; higher body weight, angina and lower grip strength were associated with spondylolisthesis in women.

Conclusion

The male/female ratio of lumbar spondylolisthesis prevalence was 1:1.3 in elderly Chinese. Men are more likely to have retrolisthesis.

Key Points

• The prevalence of spondylolisthesis is 19.1 % in elderly Chinese men.

• The prevalence of spondylolisthesis is 25.0 % in elderly Chinese women.

• Men are more likely to have retrolisthesis.

• Anterolisthesis is most commonly seen at the L4/L5 level.

• Retrolisthesis is most commonly seen at the L3/L4 level.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Institute of Health R01 Grant AR049439-01A1 and the Research Grants Council Earmarked Grant CUHK 4101/02 M.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Lai-Chang He, Yi-Xiang J Wang, James F Griffith, Xian-Jun Zeng, Anthony WL Kwok & Anil T Ahuja

  2. Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Xian-Jun Zeng, Anthony WL Kwok, Jason CS Leung, Timothy Kwok & Ping Chung Leung

  3. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Timothy Kwok

  4. Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

    Lai-Chang He

  5. Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Jinan University Second Clinical Medical College, Shenzhen, China

    Jing-Shan Gong

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  1. Lai-Chang He
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  2. Yi-Xiang J Wang
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Correspondence to Yi-Xiang J Wang.

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He, LC., Wang, YX.J., Gong, JS. et al. Prevalence and risk factors of lumbar spondylolisthesis in elderly Chinese men and women. Eur Radiol 24, 441–448 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3041-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3041-5

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