Prevalence of cervical spine degenerative changes in elderly population and its weak association with again neck pain and osteoporosis

Abstract

Background: Pain in the neck region is a serious public health issue, both in terms of individual health and overall well-being, as well as the financial costs connected with it .The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the aetiology of neck discomfort is prevalent; however, the link between MRI findings of cervical spine degenerative changes and neck complaints is not well defined.Asymptomatic people, especially those over the age of 40, are more likely to have cervical degenerative results. In asymptomatic individuals, the frequency and range of cervical spine degenerative findings are likewise substantially age-dependent. Aim: To evaluate prevalence of cervical spine degenerative changes in elderly population and its weak association with again neck pain and osteoporosis. Methods: T2 weighted sagittal MR images of the cervical spine were obtained in 391 males (mean age: 82.9±3.83) and 261 females (mean age: 83.6±5.38) from a general population sample. Degenerative alterations were classified after images were evaluated. The participants were divided into two groups: younger (group A, under 80 years old) and older (group B, over 80 years old). The question for neck discomfort was structured as follows: "Have you had any neck pain in the last 12 months?" The hip bone mineral density (BMD) of 391 males and 261 females was also assessed. Results: At least one degenerative alteration was found in 97.3 percent of the individuals at one or more vertebral levels. The highest overall frequency of degenerative alterations was found at the C5/6 level. Females were more likely than males to develop degenerative alterations. Degenerative findings were more common or more severe in the older female group than in the younger group. Neck pain was experienced by 12.5 percent of males and 23.7 percent of females, with male respondents having a somewhat higher prevalence of cervical degenerative alterations. There was a weak link between osteoporosis and a higher prevalence of high signal in the spinal cord and stenosis in the spinal canal. Conclusions: Females' cervical spine degenerative alterations were more age-dependent than males'. Neck pain and osteoporosis were found to be weakly linked to a higher incidence of cervical degenerative alterations.