Factors Associated with Osteoporosis among Women Diagnosed by Using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a major public health problem, because it is lead to weakness of the skeleton and increased risk of fractures particularly of the spine and hip, increased morbidity and mortality, and which are a huge burden on the health system due to the high economic costs of those care fractures they produced.

Objective: to identify some factors associated with occurrence of osteoporosis among women in AL-Najaf province

Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted in DEXA unit in radiology department in Al-Sader Teaching Hospital in AL-Najaf Province /Iraq from August 2014 till the end of March 2015.A purposive sample was (150) woman who referred for investigation osteoporosis by using DEXA measurement. Data were gathered by direct interview with the women using especial questionnaire that include questions about socio-demographic characteristics such as age of women, level of education, residency, reproductive variables such as menopausal age, medical history such as hypertension, diabetic mellitus, body mass index (BMI) and physical activities.

Results: The results indicated that the osteoporosis in this study was 45.3%. The most of osteoporosis (75%) within age group (> 60) years, (53.7%) woman at menopause, (67.8%) were smoking, (31.3%) had renal problems. The present study showed that (85%) of women with osteoporosis had normal body mass index, while (31.1%) were obese (30+). In addition to, the study revealed that (60%)of women with osteoporosis were within low physical activities levels.

Conclusion :The study concludes that the osteoporosis was significantly associated with body mass index, current age, renal problems,

Recommendations: the researcher recommended that all women above 50 years to be done DEXA examination yearly or every two years to decrease possibility of osteoporosis .