Risk factors for osteoporosis: A review

Skeletal fragility and falls are the 2 most potent factors leading to osteoporotic fractures. The aim of this article is to review factors associated with women's risk of developing skeletal fragility and subsequent osteoporosis. Many factors have been implicated, but the evidence for some is unsubstantial. Low premenopausal bone mineral density (BMD), a decrease in BMD, and an increase in bone fragility -- which occur as a result of both aging and the menopause -- are major determinants of subsequent risk for osteoporotic fracture. In addition, low body mass index (BMI), low calcium intake, low physical activity, and smoking can affect BMD. The relative importance of the effects these physical and lifestyle factors have on BMD in midlife women is not fully established. The impact of gynecologic history (parity, lactation, oral contraceptive use, age of menarche) on BMD is uncertain.     

Breastfeeding and postmenopausal osteoporosis

Bone loss associated with osteoporosis occurs with high frequency among the elderly and often results in debilitating fractures. A combination of lifestyle behaviors, genetic predisposition, and disease processes contributes to bone metabolism. Therefore, any discussion regarding bone health must address these factors. The impact of menopause on bone turnover has been generally well studied and characterized. Breastfeeding places significant stress on calcium metabolism and, as a consequence, directly influences bone metabolism. The most significant factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism are the duration and frequency of lactation, the return of menses, and pre-pregnancy weight. Although transient, lactation is associated with bone loss. As clinical guidelines and public health policies are being formulated, there is a compelling need for further investigation into the relationship of lactation, BMD, and subsequent risk of osteoporosis. Better understanding of this relationship will provide new opportunities for early intervention and ultimately help in the prevention of bone loss in postmenopausal women.     

Talking about hysterectomy: the experiences of women from four cultural groups

As part of the Ethnicity, Needs, and Decisions of Women (ENDOW) project, in-depth qualitative interviews and focus groups were conducted at four sites, Alabama, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Texas. In South Carolina and Alabama, African American and white women were interviewed. In Texas, African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic women were interviewed, and in New Mexico, focus groups with Caucasian, Hispanic, and Navajo women were conducted. The Texas site also conducted focus groups with lesbian women. Data were collected on women's experiences with and attitude toward menopause, hysterectomy, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Information also was gathered on women's concerns and what experiences they have had or expect to have with healthcare providers and what they perceive their friends', families', and sexual partners' attitudes are toward hysterectomy. Numerous commonalties of experience existed across racial and ethnic groups. Overall, the women who participated believed that doctors do not take the time to explain issues related to menopause, hysterectomy, and HRT. Most of the women who have had a hysterectomy were satisfied with the outcome of surgery, as painful symptoms were relieved. There are also several interesting differences among the groups. Decision-making patterns differed among the ethnic groups, as did experience with healthcare providers. Many women in the focus groups expressed mistrust of or negative opinions of healthcare providers. African Americans expressed mistrust of their motives for recommending surgery, as did several of the Caucasian, non-Hispanic women. Most of the Hispanic participants respected and trusted their providers. All groups said they would seek additional medical opinions if they could afford to do so.     

Ethnic variation in risk for osteoporosis among women: a review of biological and behavioral factors

Most studies of risk factors for osteoporosis and nontraumatic fracture involve white women, although more research is being geared toward bone health among various ethnic groups. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of health disparity in osteoporosis, including assessment of bone mineral density (BMD), bone health screening, lifestyle risk factors, and treatment involving white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American women. This review summarizes evidence that white, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women are more at risk for osteoporosis than black women. These conclusions are supported by the disparity in BMD between white and black women, although the reason for this biological difference is not well characterized. Additional research is needed to determine if there is a significant difference in BMD among Hispanic, Asian, and Native American women independent of body weight and size. Similarly, there is also disparity in fracture rates, with the causes presumed to be multifactorial. Calcium intake is lower than recommended in all females at all ages; however, it is much lower in black and Native American women and highest in white and Hispanic women. Black women also have a lower vitamin D status than white women, with mean vitamin D status of Hispanic American women lying between that of black and white women. Similarly, although white women are more active than black and Hispanic women at all ages, data are lacking about physical activity habits of women of other ethnic backgrounds and how this impacts bone health. Finally, screening protocols for women of various ethnicities and effectiveness of treatments are not well established and remain a priority in women's health.     

Talking "among us": how women from different racial-ethnic groups define and discuss menopause

Against a backdrop of scant literature on commonalities and differences among diverse groups of menopausal women within the United States, and little attempt by scholars in any country to study the ways in which both privilege and oppression can shape women's ideas and experiences of menopause, in this study, 61 menopausal women of varied racial-ethnic and class locations in a Midwestern state were asked about the different meanings and experiences of menopause. African American women and Chicanas, particularly working-class women, viewed menopause as a positive experience, whereas many middle-class European American women discussed more negative feelings. Women of color were more likely than European Americans to report talking about menopause with same-race, same-sex friends only. While women of color discussed their knowledge of European American women's menopause, the latter lacked knowledge of other women's experiences. Women's lived experiences with privilege and oppression also surfaced in the interviews. The authors argue that when scholars listen to how women discuss menopause experiences, commonalities among women by gender, and differences among women by race, and class are exposed. The presence of racial-ethnic differences in these pilot data suggests the importance of more comparative studies on reproductive aging both in the United States and abroad.     

Effectiveness of screening for osteoporosis by bone density measurement for the prevention of fractures: a review of the evidence

To review evidence on the benefits of screening women and men for osteoporosis, a Pub Med search was performed in English papers published between 1990 and 2002. We used data from a cohort study to estimate risk of fracture from bone mineral density. Bone mineral density measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can predict bone fracture among elderly women, peri- and early post-menopausal women, and elderly men. It is recommended that all white women older than 65 years be screened routinely for osteoporosis. We suggest that Japanese elderly women should receive BMD measurements as a screening, but we have still issues to be solved including age from when the screening should be started, methods, and how to treat the women found to have osteoporosis at the screening. For peri- and postmenopausal women and elderly men, it might be beneficial to measure BMD as a screening and start treatment for those patients found to have osteoporosis. However, incidence of fractures for these people is lower than that for elderly women. One bone mass measurement can predict bone fracture risk for as long as over 10 years or more, but predictive ability of BMD decreases with time. Therefore, cost effectiveness needs to be reviewed to determine the benefits of screening among peri-menopausal women and men. Although bone assessment by quantitative ultra sound (QUS) method by ultrasound can also predict future fractures, only a relatively small number of longitudinal studies have been conducted in the Western countries, and there is no established evidence by means of longitudinal studies among Japanese. It is necessary in Japan to seek such evidence, however, since this method is widely used for an osteoporosis examinations.     

Risk factors for low bone mineral density among a large group of Norwegian women with fractures

The objectives of this study were to determine factors related to fractures and bone mineral density (BMD) in a large group of Norwegian women. In a cross-sectional study, 3803 women aged 50–75, all with a history of fractures, were included in the study. BMD was measured with Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at both hip (neck) and spine (L1–L4), while information on other factors thought to influence BMD were obtained through a questionnaire. In multivariate analysis, the strongest positive predictor of both hip and spine BMD was current body weight, while weight loss since the age of 25 and number of years since menopause were the strongest inverse predictors. In addition, use of cortisone and maternal history of fractures were associated with lower BMD, as was loss of height since the age of 25. Physical activity was positively correlated with BMD. These results show the complexity of factors involved in the etiology of osteoporosis, with several factors acting in synergism. This points to the need for multifactorial prevention strategies, which most effectively need to be instituted at an early age, before peak bone mass is achieved.     

Impact of Dietary Habits and Physical Activity on Bone Health among 40 to 60 Year Old Females at Risk of Osteoporosis in India

Osteoporosis is a disorder of bones with increasing risk among women. However, a number of modifiable factors can help in combating this disorder. Present study examined the relationship of diet and physical activity and risk of osteoporosis through biochemical tests, bone mass density (BMD) scores, and standard questionnaires. Genetic risk for osteoporosis, presence of osteoarthritis, and thyroid problems were found among 8%, 7%, and 3% of participants, respectively; and 78% had onset of menopause between 47 to 55 years of age. Results revealed that less intake of proteins, minerals, and diverse fruit and vegetable consumption was significantly (p ≤ 0.05; 0.01) correlated with decreased BMD score and serum calcium. It was concluded that adequate intake of varied fruits and vegetables, good protein, habit of daily physical activity, adequate sun exposure, and dietary calcium, may play a promising role in decreasing the risk of osteoporosis among women of this age group.     

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: pathogenesis,diagnosis, and management

Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss is dose- and duration-related, develops rapidly (within months of therapy), and leads to an increased risk of fractures. Moreover, less than one in four patients prescribed oral glucocorticoids receive any treatment to prevent or treat osteoporosis. The American College of Rheumatology recommends bisphosphonate therapy to prevent bone loss in most patients beginning long-term glucocorticoid therapy (prednisone equivalent of > or =5 mg/day for at least 3 months), and in men and postmenopausal women receiving long-term glucocorticoids who have an abnormal bone mineral density (T score below -1). Patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are at particularly high risk for fractures, and should be treated aggressively to reduce fracture risk. Risedronate is approved in the United States for both prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and alendronate is approved for treatment. Both drugs increase bone mass in patients with established glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Risedronate has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of fractures after 1 year of treatment. Prevention or treatment of glucocorticoid-induced bone loss is recommended for patients at risk.     

The Burden of Osteoporosis and the Case for Disease Management

Currently, osteoporosis, defined as low bone mineral density (BMD), affects 30% of postmenopausal women and 8% of men >50 years old in Western society and these percentages are likely to increase as our elderly population expands. Osteoporosis-related fractures increase with age and reductions in BMD, with the greatest increase in hip, followed by vertebral, and then wrist fractures. Osteoporosis is associated with significant mortality and for each 1 SD decrease in BMD there is a 1.5-fold increase in mortality risk. Following a hip fracture, 25–30% of patients will die within 3–6 months and in some populations hip fractures account for 1.5% of all deaths. Osteoporosis and related fractures are associated with significant morbidity, with loss of independence, psychological effects, and an overall decreased quality of life.The current financial cost of osteoporosis in the US is $US14 billion and in the UK just over £1 billion, and these costs will increase 3- to 8-fold over the next 50 years. Treatments are available that have been shown to significantly increase BMD, decrease bone turnover, and as a result decrease fracture incidence. For reductions in both vertebral and fracture, the evidence is strongest for the use of the bisphosphonates alendronate and risedronate; while for vertebral fracture, effective treatments include raloxifene, etidronate, calcitonin, and calcium plus vitamin D. Recent data suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can prevent hip and vertebral fractures, but long-term use, or commencement in elderly women of some continuous combined preparations, is no longer recommended.It has been recognized that bone turnover and bone quality contribute to fracture risk and, therefore, biochemical assessment of bone resorption and formation may increase the clinical and cost effectiveness of treatment. Using a conservative estimate of fracture reduction (35%) over a 5-year period, an intervention costing $US500 (£333) per year is cost effective when targeted to women with osteoporosis who are ≥65 years of age. It has been calculated that the lower the intervention cost and the higher the effectiveness of treatment the lower the age at which the treatment would be cost effective. The increasing healthcare burden and effective treatments make osteoporosis an excellent candidate for disease management programs.     

Vitamin D and bone health in postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis, a disease of increased skeletal fragility, is becoming increasingly common as the U.S. population ages. Adequate vitamin D and calcium intake is the cornerstone of osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Age-related changes in vitamin D and calcium metabolism increase the risk of vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Although longitudinal data have suggested a role of vitamin D intake in modulating bone loss in perimenopausal women, studies of vitamin D and calcium supplementation have failed to support a significant effect of vitamin D and calcium during early menopause. There is a clearer benefit in vitamin D and calcium supplementation in older postmenopausal women. Vitamin D intake between 500 and 800 IU daily, with or without calcium supplementation, has been shown to increase bone mineral density (BMD) in women with a mean age of approximately 63 years. In women older than 65, there is even more benefit with vitamin D intakes of between 800 and 900 IU daily and 1200-1300 mg of calcium daily, with increased bone density, decreased bone turnover, and decreased nonvertebral fractures. The decreases in nonvertebral fractures may also be influenced by vitamin D-mediated decreases in body sway and fall risk. There are insufficient available data supporting a benefit from vitamin D supplementation alone, without calcium, to prevent osteoporotic fracture in postmenopausal women.     

Who is at risk of osteoporosis?

This contribution assesses who is at risk of osteoporosis, by delineating the key risk factors involved in the condition. Osteoporosis represents a major public health problem through its association with fragility fractures, primarily of the hip, spine and distal forearm. Some risk factors for fragility fracture act through bone mineral density (BMD), for example female gender, asian or Caucasian race, premature menopause, primary or secondary amenorrhoea, primary and secondary hypogonadism in men, prolongued immobilisation, low dietary calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency. However, a number of others contribute significantly to fracture risk over and above their association with BMD (age, high bone turnover, poor visual acuity, neuromuscular disorders, previous fragility fracture, glucocorticoid therapy, family history of hip fracture, low body weight, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption).     

Bone density recovery after depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable contraception use

BACKGROUND: While depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a highly effective contraceptive used by millions of women, its use is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) loss, raising concerns about long-term risk of osteoporosis and/or fractures. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review of studies published in PubMed from 1996 to 2006, evaluating changes in BMD after discontinuation of DMPA. Ten primary clinical or observational studies were identified addressing this issue. RESULTS: BMD consistently returned toward or to baseline values following DMPA discontinuation in women of all ages. This recovery in BMD was seen as early as 24 weeks after stopping therapy and persisted for as long as women were followed up; BMD in past DMPA users was similar to that in nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Bone loss occurring with DMPA use is reversible and is not likely to be an important risk factor for low bone density and fractures in older women, although data on fracture risk in DMPA users are lacking.     

Vitamin K2 Therapy for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Vitamin K may play an important role in the prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Menatetrenone is the brand name of a synthetic vitamin K₂ that is chemically identical to menaquinone-4. The present review study aimed to clarify the effect of menatetrenone on the skeleton in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, by reviewing the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the literature. RCTs that investigated the effect of menatetrenone on bone mineral density (BMD), measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and fracture incidence in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, were identified by a PubMed search for literature published in English. Eight studies met the criteria for RCTs. Small RCTs showed that menatetrenone monotherapy decreased serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) concentrations, modestly increased lumbar spine BMD, and reduced the incidence of fractures (mainly vertebral fracture), and that combined alendronate and menatetrenone therapy enhanced the decrease in serum ucOC concentrations and further increased femoral neck BMD. This review of the literature revealed positive evidence for the effects of menatetrenone monotherapy on fracture incidence in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Further studies are required to clarify the efficacy of menatetrenone in combination with bisphosphonates against fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.     

Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by an increased rate of bone turnover accompanied by a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) that results in an increased risk of fracture, especially of the vertebrae, hip, or wrist. Alendronate (Fosamax®, Fosamax Once-Weekly®), an oral bisphosphonate that inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and modulates bone metabolism, is a first-line therapy for the management of postmenopausal women with, or at risk of developing, osteoporosis.Alendronate produces sustained increases in BMD and reductions in bone turnover from baseline, and reduces the risk of vertebral, hip, wrist, and other fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. It also prevents bone loss, and reduces the risk of radiographic or clinical vertebral fracture in postmenopausal osteopenia. Provided administration instructions are followed, alendronate is generally well tolerated. Adverse events are usually transient and are associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract (abdominal pain, nausea, acid regurgitation, dyspepsia); moreover, the incidence of these adverse events with alendronate was similar to those with placebo. More serious events (esophagitis, gastric or duodenal ulceration or bleeding) are uncommon. Once-weekly formulations are as effective and as well tolerated as once-daily alendronate in postmenopausal women.Pharmacoeconomic evaluations suggest that alendronate is a viable treatment option in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The reduction in fracture-related healthcare utilization seen with alendronate results in decreased direct costs, including inpatient or long-term care. Markov state-transition models suggest that this could at least partially offset costs incurred with alendronate therapy. Treatment of women with osteoporosis aged 65 years and older, and postmenopausal women with a previous osteoporotic fracture, are cost-effective strategies. Alendronate is also likely to increase quality-adjusted life-years in any postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.In conclusion, clinical and economic data support the use of alendronate in postmenopausal osteoporosis. It effectively reduces bone turnover, increases BMD, and reduces the risk of osteoporotic fracture in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis, especially older women with a higher risk of fracture. Although its cost effectiveness in postmenopausal women with osteopenia is not clearly established, alendronate is clinically effective in these patients. In addition, it is generally well tolerated when taken as recommended. Consequently, alendronate should be considered a therapy of choice in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.     

Diet, smoking and anthropometric indices and postmenopausal bone fractures: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: Bone fractures are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among the elderly in the US. The present study assesses the possible role of a number of risk factors for postmenopausal bone fractures. METHODS: We analysed the relationships of anthropometric, demographic and lifestyle factors with the risk of bone fracture among 6250 postmenopausal women in a prospective cohort study, the New York University Women's Health Study. RESULTS: After an average of 7.6 years of follow-up, 1025 new incident bone fractures were reported, including 34 hip and 159 wrist fractures (incidence rates; 71.6 and 334.7 per 105 woman-years, respectively). The risk of fracture increased with increasing age, body height and total fat intake, while it was significantly lower among obese and African American women. The relative risk among African Americans was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.32-0.63) compared with non-African Americans. Women taller than 170 cm had a 64% increase in risk of fractures, as compared with those under 155 cm. These associations were generally more pronounced when fractures were limited to those at the hip and wrist. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides an indication for a potential role of dietary fat in the development of postmenopausal fractures and further evidence to support protective effects of obesity, short stature and African American ethnicity.     

Which fractures are most attributable to osteoporosis?

Background

Determining anatomic sites and circumstances under which a fracture may be a consequence of osteoporosis is a topic of ongoing debate and controversy that is important to both clinicians and researchers.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review and generated an evidence report on fracture risk based on specific anatomic bone sites and fracture diagnosis codes. Using the Research and Development/University of California at Los Angeles appropriateness process, we convened a multidisciplinary panel of 11 experts who rated fractures according to their likelihood of being because of osteoporosis based on the evidence report. Fracture sites (as determined by International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification codes) were stratified by four clinical risk factor categories based on age, sex, race/ethnicity (African American and Caucasian), and presence or absence of trauma.

Results

Consistent with current clinical experience, the fractures rated most likely because of osteoporosis were the femoral neck, pathologic fractures of the vertebrae, and lumbar and thoracic vertebral fractures. The fractures rated least likely because of osteoporosis were open proximal humerus fractures, skull, and facial bones. The expert panel rated open fractures of the arm (except proximal humerus) and fractures of the tibia/fibula, patella, ribs, and sacrum as being highly likely because of osteoporosis in older Caucasian women but a lower likelihood in younger African American men.

Conclusion

Osteoporosis attribution scores for all fracture sites were determined by a multidisciplinary expert panel to provide an evidence-based continuum of the likelihood of a fracture being associated with osteoporosis.     

长春市2005例妇女骨密度调查报告

目的:调查长春市2005例妇女骨密度,为长春市女性骨密度正常值提供数据资料,对不同年龄妇女的骨密度变化进行统计分析,获得骨密度峰值(BMDg/cm2),T值百分比及骨质疏松(OP)发病率。方法:采用OsteometerMediTech公司生产的DTX-200骨密度仪对长春市2005例妇女进行骨密度测量,将测量结果按10岁为1年龄段分组,使用SPSS13.0软件进行统计分析。结果:①长春市女性骨密度峰值出现在30岁年龄段,40岁开始缓慢下降,60岁开始明显下降;②50～59岁年龄段骨质疏松发病率为14.74%,60～69岁年龄段发病率为51.25%,70～79岁年龄段发病率为74.42%,80～89岁年龄段发病率为86.11%。结论:女性骨质疏松的发生与绝经关系密切,60岁以后骨质疏松发病率呈递增趋势,不同年龄段骨质疏松发病率差异显著(P<0.01)。     

Predicting the use of individualized risk assessment for breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the decision to obtain individualized risk assessment (IRA) after a breast cancer education session. METHODS: A sample of both African American and Caucasian women was used to determine if there were differences by race/ethnicity in uptake of the assessment and differences in the variables that were most predictive of uptake. The sample included 166 women between the ages of 18 and 80. Sixty-two percent of the sample were African American women. KEY FINDINGS: The results suggested that African American women and Caucasian women used different factors and used other factors differently to decide whether or not to obtain an IRA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results are discussed within the context of health disparities among ethnic minority and Caucasian women with implications for breast cancer control programs. The results of this study suggest that knowledge alone does not lead to opting for a personalized risk assessment, and that African American and Caucasian women use different pieces of information, or information differently to make decision about getting more personalized information about risk.