Cancer chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis: How common is it among Saudi Arabian cancer survivors

This study was done to assess the prevalence of cancer chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis among survivors of cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Patients who received chemotherapy due to malignant disease attending oncology and orthopedic clinics between June 1, 2006 and November 30, 2006, were the subjects. Age, sex, type of malignancy, last chemotherapy cycle and body mass index (BMI) of patients were entered in the database. Complete blood picture, serum calcium, phosphorous, renal function and liver function tests were done. Bone mineral density measurement of the hip and spine was done using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry.

We analyzed the data of 71 patients with an average age of 49.29 +/- 8.24 years. Of these, 19 (25.8%) were osteoporotic and 33.87% were found to be osteopenic according to the BMD of the lumbar spine, 17 (22.6%) found to be osteoporotic and 29% found to be osteopenic per the BMD of the hip area. Patients whose BMD was normal had received their last chemotherapy cycle 48.68 +/- 27.35 months earlier (P = 0.01). Osteopenia and osteoporosis were more common in patients in the age group of < or =50 years (65.6%) versus 56.4% in patients of > or =51 years (P = 0.001). Patients who received the last cycle of chemotherapy of less than 2 years were significantly more osteoporotic (81.5%-18.5%, P < 0.0001).

Our study indicates a high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients who were younger than < or =50 years and who had received cancer chemotherapy. Second, bone loss continued for more than 2 years from the last cycle of chemotherapy.