PREVALENCE OF OSTEOPOROSIS IN WOMEN AGED 35 TO 65 YEARS IN TEA GARDEN COMMUNITY OF JORHAT DISTRICT

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis poses a huge challenge in India, as it is a developing country due to demographic transition and aging of the population along with limited resource availability in rural India.Osteoporosis predominantly affects postmenopausal women. The mal-nutrition, and smoking, consumption of liquor and tobacco may have an effect on bone mineral density (BMD) .Osteoporosis occurs in all populations, but not all populations are at equal risk. According to various studies, Asian women have higher predisposition for osteoporosis than their Caucasian people. Reasons attributed for lower bone mineral density (BMD) in Indians include possible genetic differences, nutritional deciency and smaller skeletal size. Smoking or tobacco intake, malnourishment, alcohol has a negative effect on bone mineral density [BMD]. Tea garden people are probably more affected than other communities in the surrounding area as evidence by high attendance of patients with osteoporosis & fragility fractures in Orthopaedic OPD of JMCH. Increase prevalence in the community might be wholly or partly due to poor socio-economic status , poor nutrition, lack of calcium and vitamin d in diet, dark skin and addiction to alcohol. Purpose of the study: to study the prevalence of osteoporosis in middle-aged to elderly tea garden women of Jorhat district. Materials and Methods: In this community based cross-sectional study, BMD (bone mineral density) of 360 female subjects, aged 35 to 65 years, were calculated using quantitative ultrasound bone densitometry.(QUS) In our study 24.7% were Results: osteoporotic, followed by 39.5% were osteopenic and 35.8% had normal BMD. Thus, the prevalence of osteoporosis in our study, in the female population of tea gardens of Jorhat district was 24.7%