Nejla El Amri1,2, Cyrine Daldoul3,4, Sadok Lataoui5,6, Khadija Baccouche5,6, Safaa Belghali5,6, Héla Zeglaoui5,6, Elyes Bouajina5,6. 1. Department of Rheumatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. elamri_nejla@yahoo.fr. 2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia. elamri_nejla@yahoo.fr. 3. Department of Rheumatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. dalcyrine@gmail.com. 4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia. dalcyrine@gmail.com. 5. Department of Rheumatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. 6. Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Abstract
Data are still scarce regarding the prevalence and the associated factors of vertebral fractures (VF) in the North Africa and the Middle East region. In this study, VF were common in at risk Tunisian women with a prevalence of 26.19%. Lower total hip T-score, having severe back pain, and being physically inactive were independently associated with VF. INTRODUCTION: Vertebral fractures are related to a marked increase in morbidity and mortality and they are associated with a definite risk of subsequent fracture. Nevertheless, they remain underdiagnosed and little is known about their epidemiology in the African countries. In this first Tunisian study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of asymptomatic VF among at risk Tunisian post-menopausal women. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included post-menopausal women without a previous diagnosis of VF and who were referred for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. Each participant had had an extensive medical history investigation, a BMD assessment, and a vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) scan using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. VF were defined using Genant semi-quantitative method. RESULTS: Two hundred and ten post-menopausal women were included. The overall prevalence of VF was 26.19% and 9.52% of our participants had multiple VF. The prevalence of VF was significantly higher in older participants, those having a history of prior severe fragility fracture, or having at least one intrinsic fall. The percentage of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis were significantly higher in women with VF. After binary logistic regression analysis, severe back pain (OR = 3.016; 95% CI 1.304-6.974), regular physical activity (OR = 0.065; 95% CI 0.02-0.213), and total hip T-score (OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.383-0.820) were independently associated with VF. CONCLUSION: VF are very prevalent among at risk Tunisian post-menopausal women and their incorporation in a clinical and densitometric tool might identify more effectively subsequent fracture.
Data are still scarce regarding the prevalence and the associated factors of vertebral fractures (VF) in the North Africa and the Middle East region. In this study, VF were common in at risk Tunisian women with a prevalence of 26.19%. Lower total hip T-score, having severe back pain, and being physically inactive were independently associated with VF. INTRODUCTION: Vertebral fractures are related to a marked increase in morbidity and mortality and they are associated with a definite risk of subsequent fracture. Nevertheless, they remain underdiagnosed and little is known about their epidemiology in the African countries. In this first Tunisian study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of asymptomatic VF among at risk Tunisian post-menopausal women. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included post-menopausal women without a previous diagnosis of VF and who were referred for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. Each participant had had an extensive medical history investigation, a BMD assessment, and a vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) scan using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. VF were defined using Genant semi-quantitative method. RESULTS: Two hundred and ten post-menopausal women were included. The overall prevalence of VF was 26.19% and 9.52% of our participants had multiple VF. The prevalence of VF was significantly higher in older participants, those having a history of prior severe fragility fracture, or having at least one intrinsic fall. The percentage of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis were significantly higher in women with VF. After binary logistic regression analysis, severe back pain (OR = 3.016; 95% CI 1.304-6.974), regular physical activity (OR = 0.065; 95% CI 0.02-0.213), and total hip T-score (OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.383-0.820) were independently associated with VF. CONCLUSION: VF are very prevalent among at risk Tunisian post-menopausal women and their incorporation in a clinical and densitometric tool might identify more effectively subsequent fracture.