Risk factors for hip fractures in Chinese postmenopausal women: a prospective study

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the risk factors for osteoporotic fractures and to determine the fracture rate in postmenopausal Chinese women. Methods: 1,435 postmenopausal treatment naive Chinese women aged 63.48.3(range 45–91) years were recruited from the community. Baseline demographic information and clinical risk factors were determined using a structured questionnaire and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the spine and hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Periodic assessment by telephone interview was performed and the clinical outcome was ascertained from the computerized record system of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong. Proportional-hazards analysis was used to identify independent risk factors of hip fracture. Results: After a mean of 3.02.1 (1.0–9.1) years, 115 subjects were lost to follow up and 27 died. Data from 1,293 women were analyzed. 51 non-traumatic new fractures were reported during follow-up (5 vertebral, 11 hip, 7 humerus, 9 distal forearm fractures). The risk factors in the table below were significant predictors of hip fracture. The rate of osteoporotic fractures for women aged 45–54 years was 7/1000 woman-year while for women aged 75–84 years was 30/1000 woman-year. The fracture rate for postmenopausal women with hip BMD T score>-2.5 was 8/1000 woman-year while for women with 2 or more risk factors was 33/1000 woman-year. Conclusion: Osteoporotic fracture is a major public health problem in Chinese and preventive programme should be offered to target subjects at high risks of fracture.