Osteoporosis in urban post-menopausal women of the Philippines: prevalence and risk factors

SUMMARY: The prevalence of osteoporosis was assessed among post-menopausal women dwelling in an urban community of Davao, Philippines using quantitative ultrasonic bone densitometry and its predictors were investigated. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 19.8%. Advancing age, lower body weight, and higher educational attainment were identified as the independent predictors of osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of osteoporosis among post-menopausal women dwelling in an urban community of the Philippines and investigated the risk factors for osteoporosis using a quantitative ultrasonic bone densitometer. METHODS: The study site was an area with high population density in Davao, the Philippines. Data collection was based on a structured questionnaire interview, and measurements of body size and speed of sound (SOS) at the calcaneus. The SOS T-score was calculated using the young adult mean (YAM) SOS based on data from 905 women aged 20 years and over residing in the community. The data for 339 post-menopausal women were analyzed to identify the prevalence of osteoporosis and its predictors in this study. The predictors of osteoporosis were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The majority of the women lived on low-incomes. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 19.8% in post-menopausal women. Age in 1 year increments (odds ratio [OR] 1.168), body weight (OR 0.954), and duration of education in years (OR 1.132) were predictors of osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified body weight as a modifiable risk factor of osteoporosis for post-menopausal women. Longitudinal observation of the same participants will be necessary to confirm these findings.