Osteoporosis in Korean men over 40 years: Prevalence and risk factors

Osteoporosis is increasingly being recognized as a significant health concern in men. However, research on male osteoporosis in Korea remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors influencing osteoporosis in Korean men aged ≥40 years. Secondary analysis utilized data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study urban cohort (2004-2013), focusing on 58,976 men aged ≥40 years. Variables included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, medical history, anthropometric measurements, biometric parameters, and dietary habits. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance, Chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 0.6% among the male participants. Risk factors significantly associated with osteoporosis included advanced age (50-59 years: odds ratio (OR) = 1.899; ≥60 years: OR = 3.119), chronic diseases including angina/myocardial infarction (OR = 2.197), fatty liver (OR = 2.297), gallstones/cholecystitis (OR = 2.176), and arthritis (OR = 8.069), poor self-rated health (OR = 3.598), and irregular meal patterns (OR = 2.884). Protective factors included normal or overweight body mass index compared with underweight, moderate total cholesterol levels (140-200 mg/dL: OR = 0.401), and moderate coffee consumption (3-4 times/day: OR = 0.555). Age, chronic diseases, poor self-rated health, and irregular dietary habits significantly increase osteoporosis risk in Korean men. Comprehensive health management strategies focusing on these factors are essential for effective osteoporosis prevention in this population.