Osteoporosis: Prevalence and risk factors among Taiwanese metropolitan elderly

PurposeThis study estimated the age- and sex-specific prevalence of osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and determined risk factors of osteoporosis in older Taiwanese metropolitan persons.Material and methodsCross-sectional study enrolled total of 711 older persons (294 females and 417 males, aged 65–98 years) in Taichung City during 2009. Bone mineral density at central sites was measured by DXA, whole-body scan performed on each subject lying supine.ResultsAge-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis for women tallied 35.4, 15.0, and 21.1%; for men 15.1, 0.7, and 9.8% at the total hip, lumbar spine, and femoral neck, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), weight, and smoking manifested strong linkage with osteoporosis. Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.24 (0.15–0.40) for males; 1.86 (1.03–3.35), and 3.24 (1.67–6.28) for 70–74, and >80 years, respectively; 0.12 (0.05–0.29), 0.09 (0.04–0.23), and 0.08 (0.03–0.22) for BMIs of 18.5–24, 24–27, and ≥27 kg/m2, respectively; 2.66 (1.27–5.56) for smoking; and 2.11 (1.16, 3.84) for frailty status.ConclusionOsteoporosis was most common at the total hip and least common at the lumbar spine in both sexes. Programs for osteoporosis screening should aim at older females and/or those with low BMI, frailty or a smoking habit.