Evaluation of osteoporosis among medical and paramedical staffs in a tertiary health-care hospital in India

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a silent, underdiagnosed disease, which is characterized by low bone mass leading to increased susceptibility to fractures. Screening for osteoporosis is not routinely done despite growing awareness of this condition and its complications. Routine screening practices can help early detection and treatment. Materials and Methods: The objective of this study was to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) of health-care professionals (doctors and nurses) using calcaneal ultrasound heel bone densitometer. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital involving 863 individuals. BMD was measured using calcaneal quantitative ultrasonography and T-scores were calculated. Results: The overall prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia among men and women was similar in our study. Nearly 50% of staff nurses were found to be below normal as per T-scores. Among doctors, contrasting popular belief, the prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in males than in females. Conclusion: This study indicates that medical professionals are equally at risk of osteoporosis as the normal population and should be targeted for routine screening and preventive interventions to curtail osteoporosis and its complications.