Comparison of prevalence of osteoporosis and the association between bone mineral density and selected risk factors among premenopausal and postmenopausal women attending a health camp in urban Sri Lanka

Introduction

Bone mineral density (BMD) decreases with oestrogen depletion associated with meno­pause, leading to osteoporosisrelated morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women.

 

Aims and objectives

To compare the prevalence of osteoporosis and the association between BMD and selected risk factors among premenopausal and post­menopausal women attending a health camp.

 

Method

Osteoporosis screening was conducted at a health camp held in base hospital Panadura, Western Province. Participants included health staff and lay women aged 27-81 years residing in Panadura. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire by trained staff, and measurement of weight and height were taken. Heel bone mass density was obtained by trained technicians using Achilles EXPII bone ultrasonometer.

 

Results

305 women were screened. The mean (+/-SD) age was 51.42 (±9.33) years. Around fifty four percent (54.1%, n=l65) of women were post­menopausal. The mean (+/-SD) age at menopause was 48.17 (±4.20) years. Mean (+/-SD) T score in pre and postmenopausal women were -0.46 (±0.96) and -1.22 (±0.85) respectively. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia were 1.4% and 24.3% in premenopausal wom­en and 3.0% and 59.4% in postmenopausal women respectively. Age, age at menopause, parity, physical exercise, height, highest level of education, occupation, monthly income, previous fractures, parent fractured, current smoking, glucoc01ticoids, rheumatoid ruthritis, seconda1y osteoporosis, alcohol consump­tion and family hist01y showed no association with BMD (p>0.05) whereas weight (p<0.05, r = +0.223) and BMI (p<0.05, r = +0.262) showed a significant association with BMD in premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, only the age showed a negative medi­um (p<0.05, r = -0.208) association with BMD.

 

Conclusions

In this group of urban pre and postmenopausal women, the prevalence of osteoporosis was low. BMD in premenopausal women showed a significant positive association with weight and BMI, whereas only age had a significru1t nega­tive association with BMD in postmenopausal women.