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The Prevalence and Negative Effects of Thoracic Hyperkyphosis on Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China

The journal of nutrition, health & aging volume 25, pages 57–63 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Globally, 20% to 50% older adults have been found to have thoracic hyperkyphosis. Negative effects on physical performance have been reported. However, there has been a lack of research on the prevalence and negative effects of thoracic hyperkyphosis among Chinese community-dwelling elderly.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

The communities in Wuhan, China.

Participants

Three hundred and ninety-five Chinese community-dwelling older adults with thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Measures

Chinese community-dwelling older adults aged 60 or above lived in Wuhan, China from August to December 2018 were recruited for spine and physical performance assessments. The primary outcome was the prevalence of thoracic hyperkyphosis estimated according to the angle of kyphosis which was measured by manual inclinometers. The secondary outcomes were the effects of thoracic hyperkyphosis on physical performance measured by One-leg Standing Test (OLS), Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), Chest Expansion Test (CE), Six Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), and Farsi Version of Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). The socio-demographic and health-related information were collected by a questionnaire.

Results

Among 395 participants, the mean angle of kyphosis was 49.0° ± 10.5°, 75.2% of participants had the angle of kyphosis >40° (i.e., having thoracic kyperkyphosis). Compared with older adults having no thoracic hyperkyphosis, older adults with thoracic hyperkyphosis had increased risks performing impaired in OLS (OR=4.55, 95% CI 2.18–9.53, p<0.001), TUG (OR=6.08, 95% CI 2.57–14.40, p<0.001), CE (OR=3.23, 95% CI 1.63–6.38, p=0.001), 6MWT (OR=4.64, 95% CI 1.98–10.86, p<0.001), and FGA (OR=5.18, 95% CI 2.25–11.89, p<0.001) after controlling socio-demographic and health-related factors.

Conclusion

The thoracic hyperkyphosis had high prevalence and associated with impaired performance in balance, gait, and cardiopulmonary function tests among Chinese community-dwelling older adults, which calls for the future intervention.

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Funding

Funding: Nil

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China

    W.-Y. Li & Pui Hing Chau

  2. Public Health Department, Liyuan Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuchang District, Wuhan, China

    Y. Dai

  3. School of Nursing, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital Limited, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong

    A. F. Tiwari

Authors
  1. W.-Y. Li
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  2. Pui Hing Chau
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  4. A. F. Tiwari
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Contributions

Authors contribution: Li, Chau, Dai and Tiwari contributed to the study design, data analysis, results interpretation, and writing the paper. Li also contributed to data collection. All authors contributed to reviewed and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pui Hing Chau.

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Conflict of interest: The authors has no conflicts.

Ethical standards: The study complies with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.

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Declaration: This study comply with the current laws of China.

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Li, WY., Chau, P.H., Dai, Y. et al. The Prevalence and Negative Effects of Thoracic Hyperkyphosis on Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. J Nutr Health Aging 25, 57–63 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1441-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1441-1

Key words

  • Thoracic hyperkyphosis
  • prevalence
  • negative effects
  • physical performance
  • Chinese old adults