Objectives To compair two questionaires:a specific one-Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and a general one-Short Form-36 (SF-36),in women with decreased mineral bone density (BMD) and vertebral fractures,and to estimate which one is more useful for everyday work.

Methods Cross-section study included 50 menopausal women with osteoporosis (OP), who were assessed with the general questionaire,and all known risk factors for osteoporosis were confirmed. Osteodensitometry scan (DXA) was performed on lumbar spine,and based both on T index value and BMD the subjects were divided in two groups:first grour (women with OP, n=25),second group (women with fractures of spinal vertebra due to OP,regardless of BMD, n=25, and with at least 4 months since the last fracture).The quality of life was assessed by two questionaires:a specific one OQLQ- consists of 30 questions divided into 5 areas,which are evaluated from 1 to 7 (the lower the score the more sever function damage and worse quality of life) and the general questionnaire SF-36-containing 36 questions divided into 8 areas (scores from 0 to 100, where the lower value is also a poorer quality of life).Questionnaires were converted to get two summarized scales,so as to obtain the total score for:physical (PCS) and mental functions (MCS).The two questionnaires were compared using appropriate statistical methods in SPSS.

Results There was no significant differencev between groups regarding: mean age (first=63.3±6.0, second=64.9±7.8),mean age at the start of the menopause (first=46.8±5.3, second=48.2±4.2 years), mean duration of menopause (first=16.4±6.9, second=17.1±6.9 year),but there was statistically significant difference between the number of risk factors for OP (first=1.8±1.2, second=2.8±0.9, p<0.01).Statistically significant between group difference (p<0.01) in mean BMD and T score (first-BMD 0.807±0.057gr/cm²,T scor -3.12±0.49SD, second- BMD 0.931±0.172 gr/cm²,T score -2.09±1.45SD).The following DXA values were measured in the second group:8 patients-normal,6-osteopenia,11-osteoporosis,with average number of fractures 2.6±0.8.There was statistically significant between group difference in values of PCS OQLQ questionnaire (first=2.99, 42.7%, second=2.30, 32.8%, p<0.01),as well as in values of MCS OQLQ (first=3.18, 45.4%, second=2.17, 31.0%, p<0.01).Statistically significant difference was also observed regarding values of PCS SF-36 (first=42.2, 42.2%, second=32.5, 32.5%, p<0.01),while regarding MCS SF-36 questionnaire there was no significant between group difference (first=40.2, 40.2%, second=33.3, 33.3%, p>0.05).Mutual comparison of two questionnaires demonstrated correspondence and statistically significant decline in the quality of life in a group with fractures when it comes to PCS and MCS at OQLQ questionnaire and did not record between group difference in MCS SF-36 questionnaire.

Conclusions It was demonstrated that the specific questionnaire provided more accurate information in all areas of quality of life,with general questionnaire failing to record between group differenc in the field of mental functions.Based on the proven value as an instrument of measurement,its simplicity,accuracy and ease of administration,OQLQ questionnaire is more appropriate for routine use in women with decreasing bone quality and fractures of vertebrae due to osteoporosis.

Disclosure of Interest None declared