Summary:
To evaluate the frequency of asymptomatic vertebral fractures (VFs),
and potential risk factors, in a large sample of Greek postmenopausal
women.
PATIENT SAMPLE: Four hundred fifty-four postmenopausal women aged 35
to 80 years, with an average menopausal age of 9.2±7.1 years.
OUTCOME MEASURES:
They included medical history, anthropometric and biochemical
parameters, bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine (LS) and femoral
neck (FN), and LS lateral radiographs.
METHODS:
Lumbar spine lateral radiographs were evaluated according to
quantitative procedures, aiming to identify VFs. Anthropometric and
biochemical parameters and values of BMD were compared according to the
presence of VFs.
RESULTS:
A total of 37 (8.15%) women had at least one VF. Lumbar spine and
FN-osteoporosis was identified in up to 23.1% and 40.9% subjects
with prevalent VFs, respectively. The prevalence of VFs was largely
associated with age, with women aged 60 years or more presenting an
up to fourfold risk compared with younger women. Moreover, the
presence of VFs was associated with higher menopausal age, advanced
age at menarche, a history of early menopause, and prolonged lactation.
Lower LS-BMD and, especially, FN-BMD were negatively associated with
VF prevalence (prevalent VF vs. no VF: LS-BMD, 0.89±0.16 g/cm2 vs. 0.98±0.
16 g/cm2, p=.010; FN-BMD, 0.72±0.10 g/cm2 vs. 0.81±0.12 g/cm2, p=.008).
CONCLUSIONS:
Asymptomatic VFs are common among Greek healthy middle-aged
postmenopausal women. More than 50% subjects with prevalent VFs present
with normal BMD or osteopenia. Age and bone density classification at
the FN presented the strongest association with the prevalence of VFs.
Keywords:
Prevalence, Vertebral fractures, Postmenopausal greek women, Osteopenia, Demographic, hormonal, genetic parameters
