Investigation of the risk factors related to osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a substantial global public health issue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk variables related with osteoporosis among patients seeking care at an outpatient menopausal clinic in a tertiary university hospital. In this retrospective cross-sectional study a total of 1148 postmenopausal women who applied to the outpatient menopause clinic of the Başkent University Hospital between June 01, 2014, and August 31, 2015, were enrolled. Patients' datasheets were reviewed and data including age, body mass index (BMI), parity, duration and age of menopause, history of smoking and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) use, natural or surgical menopause, and calcium containing food consumption were collected through a standardized questionnaire. The measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) was conducted at the femur neck and lumbar spine with a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner. The mean age of the patients was 53.5±6.7 years, the mean duration of menopause was 7.1±6.2 years and the mean age of menopause was 46.3±5.1 years. Among all, 235 patients were diagnosed to have osteoporosis (20.5%). The average femur and lumbar T values showed a decrease in normal weight patients in comparison to overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients (F=22.337, p=0.000 and F=50.195, p=0.000, respectively). The mean femur T values were higher in participants who used OCPs, regularly consumed a calcium-rich diet, and performed regular physical activity (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.05). Positive correlations were noted between giving birth and femur T values (r= 0.065, p=0.027), between natural menopause and lumbar T values (r= 0.060, p=0.043), and between consuming a calcium-rich diet and femur T values (r= 0.087, p=0.003 and r= 0.064, p=0.031, respectively). Using OCPs, lifelong physical activity, and a healthy diet rich in calcium are important factors for the prevention of osteoporosis.