The Differences of Osteoporosis Awareness and its Association with 10-Year Fracture Risks Between Female Breast Cancer Survivors Before and After Menopause Age

SummaryObjectiveTo compare the osteoporosis awareness and its association with 10-year fracture risks between young and old breast cancer survivors.MethodsDuring the 2011 Pink October campaign hosted by the Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance and the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association, questionnaires on osteoporosis awareness and FRAX variables were distributed. Data from participants aged 40 years and older (n = 807) were analyzed. Comparisons were made between those aged below and above 50 years, and among different tertiles of predicted fracture risk groups.ResultsMean age was 56.0 ± 7.7 years. Only half (52.7%) showed a high level of osteoporosis awareness. Older survivors were more likely to exhibit higher awareness levels (55.0% vs. 44.8%; p < 0.05). Moreover, osteoporosis awareness increased among higher predicted 10-year major osteoporosis fracture risk groups. Older survivors (age ≥ 50 years) also had a higher body mass index, higher prevalence of secondary osteoporosis, and higher predicted 10-year fracture risk (p < 0.05).ConclusionOsteoporosis awareness levels were higher among older and higher fracture risk breast cancer survivors. Educational program and osteoporosis prevention strategies may start with younger and lower fracture risk breast cancer survivors to increase the awareness in order to reduce under-management of osteoporosis.