Prevalence of osteoporosis and its associated work-related factors and obesity among a sample of Egyptian women indoor workers and employees

Abstract

Background/aim Obesity and osteoporosis are progressive diseases with complex etiology. They constitute a major public health concern nowadays. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis, vitamin D profile, and its relation to obesity, bone markers, and leptin among a sample of Egyptian women indoor workers and employees at the National Research Centre.Patients and methods A cross-sectional study that included 116 Egyptian women aged 25–60 years. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, and BMI), dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry [bone mineral density (BMD) and its T score at both lumbar spines and neck of the femur], and laboratory investigations (leptin, calcium, vitamin D, and C-terminal peptide) were done for all participants. They were classified according to their BMI and BMD-T scores at lumbar spines and femur neck.Results Osteoporosis was diagnosed among 11.2, 25.2, and 6.8% of participants using the BMD-T score at lumbar spines, femur neck, and at the two sites respectively; osteopenia was diagnosed among 44.8, 51.3, and 25%, respectively. Osteoporosis was significantly more frequent among normal weight women than overweight/obese ones. Normal weight osteoporotic women had significantly higher values of vitamin D and C-terminal peptide, and lower values of leptin and BMI than the nonosteoporotic ones. Among osteoporotic women, BMI had a significant negative correlation with vitamin D. BMI had significant positive correlations with BMD at both lumbar spines and femur neck and their T scores among nonosteoporotic women and total sample. BMI had a significant positive correlation with the C-terminal peptide among the osteoporotic, nonosteoporotic, and total sample, with leptin and age among the osteoporotic and total sample.Conclusion BMI had a significant positive correlation with hypovitaminosis D, C-terminal peptide, leptin, and age. It had a significant positive correlation with BMD among nonosteoporotic women, but not among osteoporotic ones. Obesity protects from osteoporosis. Dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry at lumbar spines underestimate the diagnosis of osteoporosis and osteopenia.