Osteoporosis among household women: A growing but neglected phenomenon

Osteoporosis is associated with variable morbidity and socio-economic burden and referred as a "silent epidemic" with increasing risk among Indian women. The present study was conducted to find prevalence of osteoporosis.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Ranchi city with household women as participants. Data was collected by means of pre-tested structured questionnaire in Hindi language and bone status was screened utilizing calcaneal quantitative ultrasound as a diagnostic tool to estimate bone mineral density from 223 participants and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software.

The mean age of the participants was 37.9 (5.63) and majority (52.5%) of them were vegetarian. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 8.5% (5.2-13%) while 45.7% (39-52.5%) had osteopenia. We found no significant association of osteoporosis and osteopenia with income, physical activity, and dietary patterns on univariate analysis. There was no statistical significant difference between mean age and BMI of participant among normal, osteoporosis, and osteopenia participant (p value >0.5). Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that 20% increase chances of risk with five years increase in age, the protective effect of physical activity (22%) and non-vegetarian diet (18%) though not statistically significant.

This study shows that significant number of women had osteopenia/osteoporosis within 35-40 years age group. Intensive information, education, and communication activities with regard to osteoporosis causative factors and preventive measures targeted to household women may play an important role, if started at young age.