M Noale1, S Maggi, G Crepaldi. 1. Institute of Neuroscience, Aging Branch, Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. marianna.noale@in.cnr.it
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify women at high risk of having osteoporosis according to the clinical judgment of their General Practitioners, but without a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: The General Practitioners were asked to select a sample of women aged 65 years or more who could be affected by osteoporosis but had never been diagnosed nor treated: this sample included 8,268. Moreover, 8,956 women asked to be included in the study on a voluntary basis, and were analyzed separately. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were referred to a mobile unit equipped with GE Lunar Express Ultras (Achilles), where they were administered a questionnaire and underwent a QUS examination. They were classified at high, moderate or low risk of having osteoporosis according to the 2007 International Society for Clinical Densitometry official position. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of women at high risk of having osteoporosis was 12.5%; 53% were considered at moderate risk. Logistic regressions revealed that age, early age at menopause, history of fractures, dysthyroidism and smoking were associated with high and moderate risk. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that General Practitioners are able to identify women at risk of having osteoporosis, but often do not treat them, suggesting that osteoporosis in Italy is still a neglected condition. The strength of the association of risk factors is similar in women at high and medium risk: this may raise a debate on the validity of this classification in the Italian population.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify women at high risk of having osteoporosis according to the clinical judgment of their General Practitioners, but without a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: The General Practitioners were asked to select a sample of women aged 65 years or more who could be affected by osteoporosis but had never been diagnosed nor treated: this sample included 8,268. Moreover, 8,956 women asked to be included in the study on a voluntary basis, and were analyzed separately. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were referred to a mobile unit equipped with GE Lunar Express Ultras (Achilles), where they were administered a questionnaire and underwent a QUS examination. They were classified at high, moderate or low risk of having osteoporosis according to the 2007 International Society for Clinical Densitometry official position. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of women at high risk of having osteoporosis was 12.5%; 53% were considered at moderate risk. Logistic regressions revealed that age, early age at menopause, history of fractures, dysthyroidism and smoking were associated with high and moderate risk. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that General Practitioners are able to identify women at risk of having osteoporosis, but often do not treat them, suggesting that osteoporosis in Italy is still a neglected condition. The strength of the association of risk factors is similar in women at high and medium risk: this may raise a debate on the validity of this classification in the Italian population.
Authors: Marc-Antoine Krieg; Reinhart Barkmann; Stefano Gonnelli; Alison Stewart; Douglas C Bauer; Luis Del Rio Barquero; Jonathan J Kaufman; Roman Lorenc; Paul D Miller; Wojciech P Olszynski; Catalina Poiana; Anne-Marie Schott; E Michael Lewiecki; Didier Hans Journal: J Clin Densitom Date: 2008 Jan-Mar Impact factor: 2.617
Authors: S Maggi; M Noale; S Giannini; S Adami; D Defeo; G Isaia; L Sinigaglia; P Filipponi; G Crepaldi Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2005-09-02 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: François-Emery Cotté; Bernard Cortet; Antoine Lafuma; Bernard Avouac; Abdelkader El Hasnaoui; Patrice Fardellone; Denis Pouchain; Christian Roux; Anne-Françoise Gaudin Journal: Joint Bone Spine Date: 2007-08-31 Impact factor: 4.929