ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS OF OSTEOPOROSIS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMAN

Background: To determine the usefulness of risk assessment and screening for osteoporosis in a hospital based population of postmenopausal women. Methods: 100 women with post-menopausal women, age more than 40 yrs, cessation of period more than 1yr were included in the study. Result: 17 (17.0%) were more than 65 years of age. Low body weight, inadequate dietary intake of calcium and decreased physical activity were most commonly associated risk factor. 4 (4.0%) women were smokers, women had history of oral steroid intake for >3 months for various medical illnesses. Conclusion: Evaluation of postmenopausal women by screening for risk factors was found to be a powerful tool to define the risk status for osteoporosis. Low body weight and poor dietary calcium are modifiable risk factors for developing osteoporosis. Keywords: Osteoporosis, Post-Menopausal, Prevalence

Inter-relation of Hypocalcaemia with Established Osteoporosis and DXA Analysis: A prospective study of 100 Indian subjects.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to screen the presence of hypocalcemia and clinical signs specific to hypocalcemia in dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry proven osteoporotic patients and also to analyze variations of T scores at specific anatomical regions in lumbar spine and hip. Type: Prospective cohort. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients who had T score of <?2.5 at any of the lumbar levels or in total lumbar T score were selected. Ionic calcium levels (normal – 1.1–1.135 mmol/L) of each patient were calculated. Trousseau’s sign and Chvostek’s sign were checked. Analysis of T scores was done for each patient. Results: Twelve out of 100 patients had hypocalcemia. Out of whom, only one patient had positive Trousseau’s sign and none had Chvostek’s sign present. In normocalcemic patients (n = 88), seven patients had positive Trousseau’s sign and three had Chvostek’s sign present. Average total lumbar T score of 100 patients was ?3.0 (±1.1 SD). After calculating the averages, the L3 had least T score of ?3.3 (±0.9 SD) and L1 had highest T score of ?2.5 (±1.3 SD), respectively. Twenty-seven patients had total hip T scores <?2.5 and 72 patients had T scores <?2.5 at Ward’s triangle. Similarly, average total hip T score of 100 patients was ?2.0 (±1.6 SD); average T score at Ward’s angle was much lower at ?2.9 (±1.4SD). Conclusion: L3 vertebra and Ward’s triangle are most sensitive indicators of osteoporosis. Although theoretically unlikely, hypocalcemia can be present in osteoporotic patients. Trousseau’s sign and Chvostek’s sign may be present in patients with established hypocalcemia; however, their absence does not rule out the diagnosis. Keywords: Osteoporosis, hypocalcemia, T score, ward’s triangle.