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

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

A total of 46,418 twins were sent a questionnaire. 75.3% answered. Included in the questionnaire were questions from the SF-12. We compared SF-12 values in SD patients and control patients. We also identified 259 "non-concordant" twin pairs and compared SF-12 values from the SD twin with values from the healthy twin.

In all, 943 persons were identified to have SD, leaving 33,064 persons in the control group. SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) (mean (standard deviation)) was found to be 50.50 (9.89) in SD and 53.21 (8.00) in controls (p < 0.001), and SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) was found to be 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 found to be 50.74 (9.87) in SD and 52.74 (8.84) in controls (p < 0.001), and SF-12 MCS was found to be 53.91 (8.19) in SD and 53.72 (8.70) in controls (p = 0.64).

SF-12 PCS is moderately, though highly statistically significantly worse in SD patients than in controls in this big group of twins. We found no statistical difference in SF-12 MCS between the two groups. SD patients evaluate their physical health worse and their mental health like controls.

This study was funded by The Sahva Foundation. The sponsor had no influence on the study or its publication. No conflicts of interest exist between the sponsor and the authors.

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