Assessment of Osteoporotic Fracture Risk in Patients above 50 Years Using Quantitative Ultrasonography and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool: A Cross-sectional Study
Abstract Introduction: To investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis and its association with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and bone mineral density (BMD) in a sample of individuals from South India. To assess the risk of major osteoporotic fractures (MOF) and hip fractures among study participants. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. A sample of 453 participants both male and female above 50 years of age was included. BMD measurements were assessed using the ultrasound bone densitometer. BMI and fracture risk assessment (FRAX) score were calculated for all patients. Results: The average age of the participants was 60 years. The mean t-score was −1.57. 306 (68%) had osteopenia, and 45 (9.9%) participants had osteoporosis. A higher number of females (73%) had osteoporosis than males (27%). There was no significant difference between the BMI in the normal (28.16) versus the osteopenia (27.67) and the osteoporotic group (26.92). Mean MOF risk was 4.03 (2.81 SD). Conclusion: Decrease in BMD was associated with increased fracture risk, particularly among older female participants. The findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and clinical strategies to improve bone health and reduce fracture risk.