Prevalence and determinants of osteoporosis among men aged 50 years or more in Sri Lanka: a community-based cross-sectional study

SUMMARY: This study, based on phalangeal bone mineral density (BMD) of 1,174 community dwelling male volunteers aged 50 years or more from seven provinces in Sri Lanka, shows 5.8% prevalence of osteoporosis among them. Advancing age, less physical activity, and low body weight were associated with low BMD. Men with larger families were more likely to have a lower bone mineral density. PURPOSE: The prevalence of osteoporosis among Sri Lankans is not well-known. We wished to estimate the prevalence and determinants of osteoporosis among older men in Sri Lanka. METHODS: One thousand one hundred seventy-four healthy, community dwelling male volunteers, aged 50 years or more from seven out of nine provinces in Sri Lanka underwent phalangeal bone mineral density estimation using an AccuDXA® scanner. We calculated T scores using the local reference data, and subjects with T score equal or less than −2.5 was considered to have osteoporosis. RESULTS: Sixty-six men (5.8%) were detected to have osteoporosis. In contrast to men in the highest tertile of bone mineral density, men in the lowest tertile were older (60.0 versus 55.8 years, p < 0.001), lighter (56.3 versus 65.6 kg, p < 0.001), less physically active (16.1% versus 5.5%, p < 0.001) and had larger families consisting of four or more children (36% versus 20.9%, p < 0.001). Smoking, alcohol, or milk consumption showed no association with bone mineral density. CONCLUSIONS: We report 5.8% prevalence of osteoporosis among men older than 50 years in Sri Lanka, and advancing age, less physical activity, and low body weight were associated with low bone mineral density. Men with larger families were more likely to have a lower bone mineral density.