Clinical Indicator Analysis: Unraveling the Distinct Clinical Characteristics of Kümmell Disease Compared With...

Retrospective case-control study.

To examine the differences in various clinical indicators between Kümmell disease (KD) and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), to assist in the diagnosis of KD and provide a foundation for further analysis of its risk factors.

The mechanisms underlying the progression of OVCF to KD remain unclear, and research analyzing the indicators between the two conditions is still limited.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 21 male and 59 female patients diagnosed with KD, among those admitted for OVCF at our hospital from January 2018 to January 2023. We defined all patients with KD as the kümmell group (K group). In the same period, we randomly selected 71 male and 301 female patients with OVCF as OVCF group (O group). We conducted statistical descriptions and analyses comparing both groups based on sex, bone density, age, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, endogenous creatinine clearance rate, glomerular filtration rate, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin [1, 25-(OH) 2 D 3 ], calcitonin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), N-mid osteocalcin, β-isomerized C-terminal telopeptides, procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide, body mass index, history of fragility fracture (HFF), hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease.

We found that the albumin level in K group ( P < 0.001) was significantly lower than that in the O group, and the serum phosphorus ( P = 0.002), PTH ( P = 0.037), and HFF ( P < 0.001) in K group were significantly higher than those in the O group.

Patients with KD have lower albumin levels, higher blood phosphorus levels and PTH, and a greater likelihood of a HFF compared with those with OVCF. If patients with low back pain exhibit these issues, timely medical attention is essential to rule out OVCF and prevent its progression to KD.