[Osteoporosis. Bone mass, fractures, treatment and compliance]

Following bone mineral mass measurement on 4,960 women, a follow-up study showed that the women who came from the rural area around Trondheim had higher, age-adjusted bone mass and fewer fractures than those from the Oslo area, thus suggesting a geographic difference in bone mass and fracture risk. The differences in fracture rate were explained by the difference in mean bone mass in the two populations. The majority of the women with the lowest bone mass had started medical intervention, and the compliance was higher than 80%. It was highest among those women with the lowest bone mass. Because the patients had had the bone mineral measurements carried out on their own initiative, they are being followed up by their own doctors. However, there may be a need for closer individual follow-up of those who have the lowest bone mass.