Preliminary screening of osteoporosis and osteopenia in urban women from Jammu using calcaneal QUS

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a major public health problem, associated with substantial morbidity and socio-economic burden. An early detection can help in reducing the fracture rates and overall socio-economic burden in such patients.
AIM: The present study was carried out to screen the bone status (osteopenia and osteoporosis) above the age of 25 years in urban women population in this region.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital based study was carried out in 158 women by calculating T-scores utilizing calcaneal QUS as diagnostic tool.
RESULTS: The result suggested that a substantial female population had oesteopenia and osteoporosis after the age of 45 years. The incidence of osteoporosis was (20.25%) and osteopenia (36.79%) with maximum number of both osteoporosis and osteopenic women recorded in the age group of (55-64 years). After the age of 65 years, there was an almost 100% incidence of either osteopenia or osteoporosis, indicating that it increases with age and in postmenopausal period, thereby suggesting lack of estrogenic activity might be responsible for this increasing trend. Religion, caste and diet had an influence on the outcome of osteopenic and osteoporosis score in present study, but still it has to be substantiated by conducting larger randomized clinical trials in future.
CONCLUSION: A substantial female population was screened for osteoporosis and osteopenia using calcaneal QUS method utilizing same WHO T score criteria that otherwise shall remain undiagnosed and face the complications and menace of osteoporosis.