Risk factor for osteoporotic vertebral fractures in korean postmenopausal women

Yoon, Soo Young; Jahng, Jun Seop; Park, Ki Hyun; Lim, Sung Kil

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic fracture is an important cause of disability in elderly women, and vertebral fractures are the most common of aU osteoporotic fractures. To prevent osteoporotic vertebral fracture, risk factor identification is necessary, therefore, we examined the relationship between the well-known risk factors for osteoporosis or falls and vertebral fracture.
METHODS
A total 105 Korean women aged 50-76 and had postmenopausal osteoparosis were enrolled in this study. We examined the factors attributing to develop the osteoporotic vertebral fractures through comparing the arthropometric data, past and family histories of fractures, amount of exer#cise, risk factors for falls, biochemical markers, and bone mineral densities.
RESULTS
41 had one or more vertebral fractures and 64 had no vertebral fracture. Compared to women without vertebral fracture, women with vertebral fractures were older, smaller and showed higher waist-hip ratio and larger degree of kyphosis. History of previous fractures had a significant correlation with vertebral fractures and spending a few hours daily on the feet was a risk factor for osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Women who had no vertebral fracture had greater muscle mass of leg, walked faster, and tolerated more time in tandem position than who had any osteoporotic. vertebral fracture. Compared to the non-fractured group, serum albumin level was lower in the fractured group, and urine deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, the bone resorption marker, was greater in the fractured group as predicted. Women without any fracture had greater bone mineral density of femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae. In Logistic regression analysis, waist-hip ratio, history of previous fractures, degree of kyphosis, and thigh circumference were the risk factors for the osteoporotic vertebral fracture.
CONCLUSION
It could be possible to prevent osteoporotic vertebral fractures by efforts to identify and reduce the risk factors. But prospective studies should be performed regatding social and traditional characteristics of Korea.