Osteoporosis and Its Relationship with Various Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Women in Denizli Province

Objective: Osteoporosis is an important clinical condition frequently seen in postmenopausal women. It is the major cause of vertebrael and hip fractures. The incidence of osteoporotic fractures has been increasing and half of the elderly female population in most Western as well as Asian countries has been affected. The aim of this study was to determine the postmenopausal osteoporosis rate and evaluate the relationship between osteoporosis and various risk factors in postmenopausal women living in the central and rural areas of Denizli. Material and Methods: Subjects were selected randomly among postmenopausal women who were enrolled in Village Health Centers of Denizli Provincial Directorate of,Health by public announcements. We evaluated 1100 postmenopausal women out of 16113 women, aged 45-80 years. The bone mineral density of the patients was measured by quantitative ultrasound of the tibia. Subjects with T scores lower than -2.5 SD were diagnosed as osteoporosis according to the World Health Organization criteria. Results: The rates of osteoporosis in various areas ranged between 19.8% and 53.9% (mean 36.8%). The subjects were divided into two groups as with osteoporosis and without osteoporosis. Average menarche age was greater in the osteoporotic group. The subjects who had taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had lower osteoporosis rate. Subjects with osteoporosis had lower exercise score and had lack of sun exposure due to covering. A positive correlation was found between osteoporosis age and the duration of menopause. Conclusion: We found that the incidence of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women was very high especially in rural areas of Denizli. Age, duration of menopause, age of menarche and multiparity appeared to be important risk factors in development of osteoporosis. However, HRT, physical activity and sun exposure could prevent osteoporosis. Understanding the epidemiology and fracture risk of osteoporosis may ultimately aid in reducing the public health burden of this common disorder.