The Frequency of the Clinical Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Yeşim Gökçe KUTSAL, 1 Serpil SAVAŞ, 2 Fatma İNANICI, 1 Oya ÖZDEMİR, 3 Sevilay KARAHAN, 4 Asuman DOĞAN, 5 Sami HİZMETLİ, 6 Ayhan KAMANLI, 7 Banu KURAN, 8 Sema ÖNCEL, 9 Selda SARIKAYA, 10 Kazım ŞENEL, 11 Hatice UĞURLU, 12 Pelin YAZGAN13
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University Kastamonu Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
4Department of Biostatistics, Medical Faculty of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
5Department of 5th Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
6Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
7Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey
8Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
9Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey
10Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey
11Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
12Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
13Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Harran University, Şanlıurfa, Turkey
Keywords: Osteoporosis; postmenopausal; risk factor
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to identify the frequency of clinical risk factors associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study, a total of 730 postmenopausal women were assessed for risk factors associated with osteoporosis. The assessment included a standardized questionnaire which recorded the following clinical risk factors: family and personal histories of fractures, prolonged immobilization, sun exposure, lifelong sedentary lifestyle, smoking history, low calcium intake in childhood and adulthood, excessive caffeine intake, high sodium intake, inadequate protein intake, number of pregnancies, age at menopause, the presence of premature menopause, primary and secondary amenorrhea, medical conditions, and chronic use of prescription drugs.
Results: The most frequent clinical risk factors for osteoporosis were inadequate sun exposure (53.3%), current sedentary lifestyle (52.9%), low calcium intake in adulthood (45.1%) and childhood (41.9%), and sedentary lifestyle in adolescence (27.9%). A total of 707 patients (96.5%) described more than one risk factor, while 74.3% of the patients reported one clinical risk factor at least for secondary osteoporosis.
Conclusion: Adequate sun exposure and proper intake of dietary calcium beginning in childhood combined with lifelong daily physical activity may play a role in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In addition, physicians should be aware of the high probability of secondary osteoporosis in this patient group.