Frequency of osteoporosis in an ambulatory setting in Lahore using quantitative calcaneal ultrasound

Objective: To find out the frequency of osteoporosis in an ambulatory setting using quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus and to compare it between age and gender sub-groups. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted at Akhtar Saeed Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore, from July to December 2011 and comprised all those who visited the out-patient department of the hospital and agreed to participate in the study. Quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus was done to diagnose osteoporosis. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of the 660 participants, 454 (68.8%) were women. The mean age of the participants was 34±11.8 years (range: 10-80 years). Osteoporosis was present in 123 (18.6%) and osteopenia in 423 (64.1%) of the participants. Females had greater prevalence of osteoporosis than males (n=101; 22% vs n=22; 10.7%; p 0.01). Those with age 45 years had higher prevalence of osteoporosis than with age ≤45 years (n=33; 34% vs n=90; 16%, p 0.01). Among the males with age 45 years, 20.6% had osteoporosis while among the females with age 45 years, 41.3% had osteoporosis. Mean ages of participants with normal bone mineral density, osteopenia and osteoporosis were 30.6±8.7; 33.7±11.3; and 38.1±14.4 years respectively (p 0.01). Conclusion: Osteoporosis was found to be a common occurrence, affecting females over 45 years of age more than any other sub-group.