BACKGROUND: The prevalence of osteoporosis among the elderly Indian population is increasing with the increasing longetivity of age. This can predispose to osteoporotic fractures and is a major cause for morbidity and also mortality. Early detection of Osteoporosis and appropriate timely treatment may reduce the clinical symptoms, thus reducing morbidity and improve the quality of life too. 

OBJECTIVE:

1.      To assess the prevalence of osteoporosis among the patients  above the age of 50 years  who attended the outpatient  department of a tertiary level multispecialty hospital

2.      To study the associated demographic factors

METHODS: The identified patients were screened using the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) as the standard. This was measured using the Calcaneal Quantitative Ultra Sound (QUS). A structured questionnaire was   used to identify the sociodemographic profile of the patients.

SAMPLE-SIZE-201 patients of age 50 years and above

RESULTS: It was found that osteoporosis and osteopenia were highly prevalent in persons above 50 yrs presenting with various conditions of musculoskeletal pains (osteoporosis 50% and osteopenia 36%). There was 62 % of the patients who belonged to the age group 50-60years. More females were detected with osteoporosis (53%) and osteopenia (33%), while only 34% of the males were detected to have osteoporosis and 52% had osteopenia. It was also noted that   substantial propotion of this population group had low exposure to sunlight (65%). Positive association was found between increased age, female gender, menopause, low educational status, hysterectomy ststus and low Bone Mineral Density Score.

CONCLUSION: It was found that osteoporosis and osteopenia were highly prevalent in persons above 50 yrs presenting with various conditions of musculoskeletal clinical problems .Low back pain and knee pain were  the common musculoskeletal presentations. Thus early detection of osteoporosis  and appropriate and timely management may reduce morbidity, improve symptom control and improve quality of life in these patients

KEYWORDS: Osteoporosis; Osteopenia; Bone Mineral Density.

Hemalata

Assistant Professor, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,

Govt. Medical College Kozhikode, Kerala, India 673008

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mob; +919447459101