Endocrine Abstracts

Osteoporosis is a worldwide public health problem, particularly in ageing subjects

The objectives of this study were to screen a sample of postmenopausal women aged >45 years for osteoporosis and to identify its risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at the endocrinology department of the Bologhine hospital in Algiers, Algeria. A total of 1062 postmenopausal women participated in this study. Each subject completed a questionnaire designed to identify the different etiologies and to document putative risk factors of osteoporosis. Calcium intake was evaluated using self-report by Fardellone frequency questionnaire. Bone mineral density was measured on 3 sites (lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip). Patients were classified as osteopenic, osteoporotic or normal according to WHO diagnosis criteria.

Results: The prevalence of osteoporosis according to the NHANES and OFELY reference curves were 35.9 and 29.4%, respectively.

Among the evaluated risk factors, age, puberty, parity, weight and personal history of fracture were found to be major determinants of low BMD.

Mean age of women was 61.11±8.49 years. Mean BMI and weights were 29.53±5 kg/m² and 73.07±13.34 kg, respectively. Mean age of puberty was 13.48±1.64 years and the mean number of pregnancies was 5.20±3.68. A history of fracture was noted in 281 patients.

Conclusion: Osteoporosis was frequent in our sample, and was mainly associated with certain potential risk factors which were validated in epidemiological cohorts.