Gerontologic aspects of postmenopausal measurement of bone density and prevention of osteoporosis

Abstract

I. Among 454 postmenopausal women to undergo bone mineral density (BMD) examination 7 out of 10 were aged 50 to 70 years. 1. 50 of patients older than 70 years had BMD examination because of being clinically suspicious of osteoporosis. 2. In this group of age 4 out of 10 women had BMD results of the lumbar spine below 0,8 gcm2. 3. Half of all women aged up to 50 years had a positive family history of osteoporosis. 4. Patients older than 60 years often underestimated their own risk of osteoporosis. 5. 50 of women up to the age of 50 and only one sixth of women older than 70 said they had very good to good knowledge of osteoporosis. 6. Resentments against estrogen substitution are rapidly growing with every decade of age. 7. Only one third of the women selected by BMD-indication were ready to accept longterm estrogen substitution to prevent osteoporosis. II. 4 out of 10 women had entered menopause maximally 8 years ago.1. Out of this group 6 of 10 patients were substituted with estrogen. 2. When menstruation had sisted more than 15 years ago the BMD examination indication, clinically suspicious of osteoporosis, rose immensely and made up for 50 of patients. 3. One third to one half of patients who had reached menopause more than 22 years ago showed pathological BMD results, which means they were at risk of fractures. 4. In this group only 1 in 10 women had a positive history of osteoporosis. III. Obese postmenopausal women (more than 25 of overweight according to Broca) had pathologic BMD results only half as often as postmenopausal women with normal weight. Summing it up these facts may be the basis of special counselling on the prevention of osteoporosis by estrogen substitution.