Osteoporosis screening practice at the National Guard affiliated primary care centers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

To assess the use of osteoporosis screening tests in average-risk individuals at primary healthcare centers affiliated with the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2023.

Data were presented using frequencies n (%), mean, and standard deviation. Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA tests were used for bivariate comparisons to evaluate test completion and prevalence estimates of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify the factors associated with high odds of bone mineral density (BMD) test ordering and completion. For all analyses, a p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

We retrieved and analyzed data from 5,965 unique women. Analysis showed 4,075 BMD order requests; only 1,017 (25%) orders were completed by 894 women, representing only 15% of all women included in this study. Osteoporosis was found in 274 (26.9%) tests and osteopenia in 540 tests (53.1%). Factors like patient's age, facility, number of outpatient visits, ordering staff title, and year of order were assessed to predict high utilization and completion of BMD test.

This research showed that although osteoporosis is a serious public health concern causing significant morbidity and mortality, there is still a gap in osteoporosis screening practices within primary care settings. Also, it sheds light on some factors that may predict physicians' high utilization of BMD tests and patients' completion rates.