A study on risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Kim, Jung Gu; No, Jae Hong; Hong, Joon Seok; Kim, Seok Hyun; Choi, Young Min; Moon, Shin Yong; Lee, Jin Yong

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2001;44(9):1621-1626.
Published online September 1, 2001.

A study on risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Jung Gu Kim, Jae Hong No, Joon Seok Hong, Seok Hyun Kim, Young Min Choi, Shin Yong Moon, Jin Yong Lee

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Questions about life styles, demographic parameters, medical history and social habits etc. were asked on 80 women with normal bone mineral density, and 187 women with osteopenia or osteoporosis. RESULTS: Age of >50 years, low body mass index (BMI; <18.5 kg/m2), long duration of menopause (>10 years) or breast feeding (>3 years), frequent drinking, and previous history of fracture were associated with increased prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Women without outside activity or job also showed a higher frequency of low bone mass but risk for osteopenia or osteoporosis was low in high socioeconomic status. Positivity of familial history was higher in women with low bone mass than in women with normal BMD, but this trend was not significant. The prevalence of low bone mass appeared to be independent of the following parameters: smoking, exercise, previous use of oral contraceptive, coffee and milk intake, and degree of sunlight exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Age, BMI, duration of menopause or breast feeding, drinking, and degree of outside activity, etc were the risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Key Words: Postmenopausal osteoporosis, risk factor