Short Project Description

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in a Life-course perspective: improving short- and long-term health outcomes – the AIS-Life project.Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a chronic spinal disorder primarily affecting females. While the natural history and quality-of-life measures associated with AIS are well-studied, significant gaps remain regarding its long-term consequences from a life course perspective. Understanding the impact of AIS on healthcare utilization and workforce participation is crucial, as it not only affects individuals but also imposes broader implications for healthcare systems and society.
The AIS-Life project aims to investigate health and welfare trajectories of individuals with AIS across their life course, including those who have transitioned into adulthood. The project will also explore gender differences, acknowledging the known disparities in healthcare-seeking behavior and disease progression between males and females. Additionally, we will investigate prognostic factors influencing long-term health and welfare outcomes, which is essential for developing effective secondary prevention strategies to reduce the disease burden. The AIS-Life project will utilize individual-level registry data of the full Norwegian population from 2008 to 2022. Analyses will assess healthcare utilization, prescribed medications, and sickness absence, evaluating annual rates and trends across different life stages. The project will employ open prospective cohort studies, including all individuals aged 10-18 diagnosed with AIS and those aged above 18 years with idiopathic scoliosis. Case definitions will be based on internationally recognized diagnostic codes (ICPC-2 and ICD-10). By adopting a life-course perspective on scoliosis, the AIS-Life project addresses a significant gap in the literature. Information on the long-term disease burden experienced by adolescents and adults with idiopathic scoliosis is critical for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, to guide future strategies and ultimately reduce the societal burden.