Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39931787›Full record

ArticleSpine2025

Age-Related Changes and Spinal Sagittal Alignment in Asymptomatic Community Dwelling Adults Over 50.

Wei Wang, Zheng Wang, Dongfang Wang, Chengxin Liu, Chao Kong, Weiguo Zhu, Fumin Pan, Xiangyu Li, Xiaolong Chen, Shibao Lu

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Article in Spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Wei WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Zheng WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Dongfang WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Chengxin LiuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Chao KongDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Weiguo ZhuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Fumin PanDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Xiangyu LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Xiaolong ChenDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.
Shibao LuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 10053, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designMonocentric, retrospective, cross-sectional study.

objectiveTo investigate the age-related normative values of sagittal parameters and establish their relationships in asymptomatic community-dwelling adults aged over 50. BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Degenerative changes in the spine with aging alter the sagittal balance, causing spine pathologies. However, there was a lack of comprehensive study on age-related normative values of sagittal alignment and their relationship during degenerative evolution.

methodsAmong a total of 1,370 volunteers, 701 asymptomatic volunteers were recruited. Participants underwent a lateral X-ray, and sagittal parameters were assessed using a customized computer application.

resultsAge showed a stronger correlation with upper arc of thoracic kyphosis (Upper_TK) (r=0.39) compared to sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (r=0.28) and T1_slope (r=0.29). Lumbar lordosis (LL) did not exhibit a significant decrease with age. The geometrical relationship revealed a significant correlation between TK and LL (r=0.52), and LL and pelvic incidence (PI) (r=0.63), as per the equations: TK=Upper_TK+Lower arc of TK (Lower_TK), LL=Upper arc of LL (Upper_arc)+sacral slope (SS), Lower_TK≈Upper_arc, and PI=SS+pelvic tilt (PT). However, after removing intermediate control variables of Lower_TK (Upper_arc) and SS, the correlation between TK, LL, and PI was statistically weak, due to the little to no correlation between Lower_TK (Upper_arc), SS, and PT. Upper_arc (Lower_TK) was a relatively stable parameter with an age-independent value of 15.93±5.61° in elderly adults. For adults aged 60, Upper_TK significantly increased with age, while individuals over 75 exhibited a significant increase in PT and a decrease in SS and LL.

conclusionsOur study provided a normative age-related value of spinal sagittal parameters. To assess the spinal sagittal alignment, it was suggested that LL and TK be divided into two tangential arches based on the location of the lordotic or kyphotic apex. This study offered insights for spine surgeons in preparing for surgical corrections.

Identifiers

PMID39931787
PMCPMC12502937

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.