Burden of Osteoporosis and The Factors Associated with it among the Patients Attending an Outreach Camp in a Rural Area of District Baramulla, Kashmir: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease affecting a number of people of both genders. Since bone loss a start occurring in young age soon after the peak bone mass is achieved, the problem needs to be evaluated in young people as well. Objectives: 1. To find out the burden of osteoporosis among the patients attending an outreach camp in a rural area of district Baramulla 2. To determine the factors associated with Osteoporosis among study population. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in March 2022. An out-reach camp was conducted in a rural area of district Baramulla by researchers from a tertiary care hospital at Srinagar. Bone mineral density(BMD) test was performed free of cost on all the participants. All the participants coming on the day were selected as study participants. The t score corresponding to the BMD was obtained and the frequency of osteoporosis was determined. Results: About 45.1% of the participants belonged to the age-group of 41-60 years. There was a female preponderance (63%). The prevalence of osteoporosis in this study was found out to be 20.9% and that of osteopenia was 47.3%. There was an inverse relationship between BMD and age, with BMD being lower in older age groups. The relationship between menopause and osteoporosis was statistically significant with 48% postmenopausal women having osteoporosis compared to 9.1% women premenopausal women with osteoporosis. Conclusion: The frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia among the attendants of the camp was substantial. The bone mineral density was lower in the older age groups probably because of the age related bone loss. Consequently, the prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in older age groups. Frequency of osteoporosis was more among postmenopausal women than among the premenopausal women.