Prevalence of Osteoporosis Risk Factors and the Need for Bone Mineral Density Testing in Patients with Pathologic Fractures in Kashani hospital, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Pathologic fracture is a very serious complication of osteoporosis. There is no effective treatment for osteoporosis; therefore, determination of risk factors for osteoporosis and pathologic fracture, and the subsequent prevention of the disease are important. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of osteoporosis risk factors and the need for bone mineral density testing in patients with pathologic fractures. Methods: This disctriptive study was conducted on 240 patients with pathologic fractures in 2010. Information on some risk factors related to pathologic fractures was collected by a questionnare from all patients, and the need for bone mineral density testing was assessed on the basis of national osteoporotic foundation criteria (NOF). Findings: The most frequent risk factors for pathologic fracture were inadequate calcium and vitamine D intake (75%). Smoking, use of glucocorticoid drugs, and underlying diseases had less frequency among our risk factors. Patients with one, two, and three criteria for necessarity of bone mineral density testing were respectively 22.1%, 55%, and 8.3%. Conclusion: Inadequate calcium and vitamine D intake is the most important risk factor in osteoporotic patients in Isfahan; therefore, we can conclude that a national program to provide these supplementations is necessary.

Keywords

• Osteoporosis
• Fracture
• Bone mineral density testing