There are only minor changes in quality of life in patients with Scheuermann’s disease

INTRODUCTION

The impact of Scheuermann’s disease (SD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unclear. Our aim was to study HRQoL based on The Medical Outcome Study Short Form-12 (SF-12) in adult life in a group of SD patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

75.3% of 46,418 twins answered a questionnaire which included questions from the SF-12. We compared SF-12 values in SD patients and control patients, identified 259 “non-concordant” twin pairs, and compared SF-12 values from the SD twin and the healthy twin.

RESULTS

SD was identified in 943 persons, leaving 33,064 persons in the control group. SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) (mean (stand. dev.)) was 50.50 (9.89) in SD and 53.21 (8.00) in controls (p < 0.001), and SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) was 51.52 (8.49) in SD and 51.81 (8.45) in controls (p = 0.71). In the non-concordant twin pairs SF-12 PCS was 50.74 (9.87) in SD and 52.74 (8.84) in controls (p < 0.001), and SF-12 MCS was 53.91 (8.19) in SD and 53.72 (8.70) in controls (p = 0.64).

CONCLUSION

SF-12 PCS is moderately, though highly statistically significantly worse in SD patients than in controls. We found no statistical difference in SF-12 MCS. SD patients evaluate their physical health worse and their mental health like controls.

FUNDING

This study was funded by The Sahva Foundation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Approved by the Scientific-ethical Committee in Denmark (no. 20010202).

CORRESPONDENCE: Frank Damborg. E-mail: frankdamborg@stofanet.dk

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.danmedj.dk

REFERENCE: Dan Med J 2014;61(3):A4790