Screening For Osteoporosis And Osteopenia In Rural Population Using Calcaneum QUS – A Camp Based Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Increasing prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in the Indian population is a major community health concern in future. Camp based screening of low bone mineral density (BMD) by using calcaneum quantitative ultrasound scan (QUS) is widely used low cost procedure in India. Hence Calcaneum QUS was used to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in rural population of Gurukunj Ashram, Dist Amravati (Maharashtra) in present camp based study. METHODS: In present study total 99 participants aged 25-65 years were included.  Each participant was enquired for their demographic details, dietary habit, lifestyle pattern, exercise and menstrual history related information in prescribed format and assessed for BMD (as T score) by using calcaneum QUS. The data were express in percentages and proportions and results were expressed as descriptive statistics. Chi square test was used to compare the risk factors for categorical variables. RESULTS:  Out of total participants (n=99), 66.66% (n = 66) were female subjects and 33.3% (n = 33) were male. As per the WHO criteria of BMD, 34.34 % participants were osteoporotic, 56.56% were osteopenic, whereas approximately 9.09% had normal bone density. A significant association (χ2 = 38.50, P < 0.00001) was reported between the T‑score and different age groups. Study shows apparent increasing trend in the frequency of osteopenic and osteoporotic participants with age of 35 and 56 years onward respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Present camp based reports the high prevalence of low bone mass density in increasing age in rural population.