Effect of Teriparatide on pain relief, and quality of life in postmenopausal females with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, a retrospective cohort study

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a common disease in elderly population, which could cause serious back pain and has a substantial impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to identify the effect of Teriparatide as a conservative treatment on reducing back pain, and improving quality of life for postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Methods: In a 12-month, retrospective study, 112 postmenopausal women with OVCFs were assigned to Teriparatide group (20 mu g Teriparatide, subcutaneous, once daily, n=38) or control group (500 mg calcium and 400-800 IU Vitamin D per day, oral administration, n=74) according to patients' choices between January 2016 and October 2018. Patient-reported outcomes scores including the visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and short form 36 questionnaire (SF-36) were assessed at baseline, the 3rd month, the 6th months and 1 year after treatment. Results: Treatments with Teriparatide or calcium plus vitamin D supplements had significant effect on improvement of patients' back pain as well as HRQoL, with significantly reduced VAS and ODI and increased SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. At the endpoint, Teriparatide showed better therapeutic effect, with greater reductions in VAS and ODI and more increases in SF-36 PCS and MCS scores. However, more adverse events (AEs) were found in Teriparatide group, but symptoms were relatively mild and of short duration. Conclusions: In postmenopausal women with OVCFs, the consequent persistent back pain and impaired HRQoL, treatment with Teriparatide was associated with more profound therapeutic effects and more AEs compared with calcium plus vitamin D supplements.