ABSTRACT
Background: Osteporosis is increasingly observed as a major public health concern as it leads to poor quality of life, pain and often disability for those effected. Especially in the developing countries, its prevalence in alarming in the face of poor awareness and management
Objective: To assess the risk factors for osteoporosis in females coming to a tertiary care hospital of Karachi
Methods: This was hospital based case control study conducted in a private tertiary healthcare facility of Karachi. It was carried out in 2012. 57 cases and 60 controls were selected through WHO Sample size calculator. Matching among cases and controls was based on gender, socioeconomic status and age group. Data was collected through questionnaire based personal interviews. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi Info. Association between categorical variables was found using chi square. Odds ratio was calculated for finding association between different risk factors and osteoporosis. The study was cleared through the Ethical review board
Results: One hundred and seventeen cases and controls were taken in this study with the age range of 45+ years [mean age 56.8 +/- 11.8]. Statistically significant difference was found in under 50 age group where cases were only n=8 [14%] as compared to controls n=25[42%]. Parsi ethnicity showed strong association with osteoporosis [OR 2.23]. Strong association was observed between smoking and osteoporosis with an Odds Ratio of 4.0. Strong association was observed with Rheumatoid arthritis [OR 2.8, CI at 95% 1.2-6.3] and Calcium deficiency [OR 2.2, CI at 95% 1.1-4.7]
Conclusion: The study revealed specific to Parsi ethnicity, family history, smoking, rheumatoid arthritis and Vitamin D deficiency were found to be potent risk factors. Therefore as reaffirmed from our study also, risk factors except from the non modifiable ones should be tackled well in advance through health education and interventions