CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF OSTEOPOROSIS AMONG ELDERLY FISHING AND AGRICULTURAL POPULATION IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN

Abstract

PurposeThis article is aimed to evaluate through quantification the prevalence and related aspects of osteoporosis among the aging people working in the fishing and agricultural areas in Taipei, Taiwan.MethodsThe population (n=4360) aged 65 years and above and who were admitted to a teaching hospital for a physical examination in 2010 were involved in this study. Osteoporosis is defined as bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviation (SD) or more under the young adult mean value (−2.5 SD or inferior).ResultsThe population presented an over-occurrence of osteoporosis, scoring 34.4%, and exposed a statistically important rise with cumulative age (P<0.001). Female population displayed a higher incidence than male population (48.1% vs. 26.4%; P<0.001). The age-specific frequency of osteoporosis in 65–74 years, 75–84 years, and ≥85 years was 27.7, 40.0, and 56.7%, respectively. The multinomial logistic regression showed that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.09), body height (OR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99), body weight (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–099), waist circumference (OR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), total cholesterol (OR=1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02), uric acid (OR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.85–0.95), and regular habits of meat intake (OR=1.47, 95% CI:1.19–1.75) were statistically significantly associated with osteoporosis. ConclusionNumerous medical aspects were individualistically specified, relating the occurrence of osteoporosis in the elderly among the population involved in fishing and agriculture.