Spine radiographs to improve the identification of women at high risk for fractures

JC Netelenbos, WF Lems, PP Geusens, HJ Verhaar, AJM Boermans, MM Boomsma, PGH (Paul) Mulder, SE Papapoulos

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Abstract

In women older than 60 years with clinical risk factors for osteoporosis but without osteoporosis based on bone mineral density (T-score a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand a'2.5), a systematic survey with X-rays of the spine identified previously unknown vertebral deformities in 21% of women. This study determines the prevalence of vertebral deformities in elderly women with clinical risk factors for osteoporosis but with BMD values above the threshold for osteoporosis (T-score a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand a'2.5). Bisphosphonate na < ve women older than 60 years attending 35 general practices in the Netherlands with a parts per thousand yen2 clinical risk factors for osteoporosis were invited for BMD measurement (DXA). In women with T-score a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand a'2.5 at both spine and the hips, lateral radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine were performed. Of 631 women with a DXA measurement, 187 (30%) had osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5 at the spine or the hip). Of the remaining 444 women with T-score a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand a'2.5 at both spine and hip, 387 had additional spine radiographs, of whom 80 (21%) had at least one vertebral deformity. In elderly women with clinical risk factors for osteoporosis but BMD T-score a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand a'2.5, addition of spine radiographs identified vertebral deformities in 21% (95% CI: 17-25). Since these women are at risk of future fractures, antiosteoporotic treatment should be considered.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)1347-1352
Number of pages6
JournalOsteoporosis International
Volume20
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Research programs

  • EMC NIHES-01-66-01

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