RESUMO
BACKGROUND: As the mean life span is prolonged, the concern about health care in postmenopuasal women is now promoted. Expecially, osteoporosis is the serious health problem in postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density in postmenopause is controlled by that in premenopause. Therefore, we searched for the factors which contribute to bone mineral density in premenopause. METHODS: The study subjects who visited the Health Screening and Diagnosis Center in Yeungnam University Hospital from March 1998 to July 1999 was measured BMD at the lumbar spine using Dual Energy X ray Absorptiometry. Subjects were checked past medical history, life style(smoking, drinking, physical activity, exercise etc.), birth history, breast feeding, oral pill intake. The subjects who had disorders known to interfere with bone metabolism and premature menopausal and surgical menopausal women were excluded from the study. And we reviewed the results of the laboratory and radiologic findings which had done in Health Screening and Diagnosis Center. RESULTS: 352 women were included in this study. The number of normal BMD was 228 and the number of osteopenia was 124. Weight, height, BMI, exercise was significant positively correlated with bone mineral density(p<0.05). Previous operation history was significant negatively correlation with bone mineral density(p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression result showed that weight was the most significant factor affecting to BMD and the history of operation and exercise were significant factor affecting BMD(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women, who has low weight, past operation history and lack of exercise were need to evaluation of BMD and education for prevention of osteoporosis is needed.