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A comparison of radiographic degeneration features of older Chinese women and older Italian Caucasian women with a focus on thoracic spine

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Abstract

Background

Compared with Caucasians, East Asians have a lower incident of back pain, lower prevalence and severity of osteoporotic vertebral fracture and lumbar spine degeneration.

Aim

This study compares radiographic spine degeneration features of older Chinese women (as an example of East Asians) and older Italian women (as an example of Caucasians) with a focus on the thoracic spine.

Methods

From two population-based epidemiological studies conducted in Hong Kong, China and Rome, Italy, 297 pairs (mean age: 73.6 years) age-matched older community women’s lateral spine radiographs were sampled. Existence (or absence) of seven degeneration features were assessed including: (1) hyper-kyphosis, (2) disc space narrowing (T3/T4 ~ T11/T12), (3) osteoarthritic (OA) wedging (T4 ~ T12), (4) generalised osteophyte formation (T4 ~ T12); (5) acquired short vertebrae (T4 ~ T12), (6) Schmorl node (T4 – L5), (7) disc calcification (T4–L5).

Results

Italian women were more likely to have hyper-kyphosis (53.4% vs 25.6%), disc space narrowing (34.4% vs. 17.2%), OA wedging (6.4% vs. 0.67%), Schmorl node (19.5% vs. 4.4%, all P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in osteophyte formation (7.7% vs. 9.4%, P > 0.1) and acquired short vertebrae (8.0% vs. 10.4%, P > 0.1). Disc calcification was uncommon among both Chinese and Italians.

Discussion and conclusion

For the first time, this study documented a lower prevalence of a number of thoracic spine degeneration features among Chinese. This study further affirms the concept of a generally healthier spine in older Chinese relative to older Caucasians. The observed differences may reflect a foundational background influence of genetic predisposition that represents an important line of future research.

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Data availability

The data including individual records are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions. However, data can be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Yi Xiang Jshiang Wáng

  2. Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Davide Diacinti, Antonio Iannacone, Endi Kripa & Daniele Diacinti

  3. Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Foundation Hospital Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Davide Diacinti

  4. Faculty of Medicine, JC Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Jason Chi Shun Leung & Timothy Chi Yui Kwok

  5. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Timothy Chi Yui Kwok

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All authors confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors, that the requirements for authorship have been met, and that each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work.

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Correspondence to Yi Xiang Jshiang Wáng or Daniele Diacinti.

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The study protocol was approved by the institutional Ethics Committees of the authors’ institutions.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Wáng, Y.X.J., Diacinti, D., Iannacone, A. et al. A comparison of radiographic degeneration features of older Chinese women and older Italian Caucasian women with a focus on thoracic spine. Aging Clin Exp Res 35, 2583–2591 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02537-1

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