Study of osteoporosis in portuguese women aged more than 50 years: analysis of risk factors and adherence to therapeutic

• Autor(a) principal: Carvalho, Maria João
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Moreira, Fernando, Pinho, Cláudia, Cruz, Agostinho
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/18925
• topic: Osteoporosis; Risk factors; Diagnosis; Treatment

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass, increased bone fragility and risk of fracture. In Portugal, osteoporosis affects 500 hundred people. The criteria for initiating pharmacological treatment is based on the bone mineral density test and the assessment of risk factors. Due to the asymptomatic condition of the pathology patients don’t adhere correctly to the medication which contributes to a higher risk of fracture and comorbidities. The aim of this study was to identify variables associated with osteoporosis and evaluate the adherence with osteoporosis treatment. We conducted a study including 107 women aged over 50 years old. The data was collected by questionnaire and women were examined using Quantitative Ultrasound of the Calcaneus. 43.9 % of women were normal, 37.4% had osteopenia and 18.7% had osteoporosis. Increased age (p=0.000) and menopause (p=0.013) were correlated with T-score. Body mass index (p=0.380) was not statistically correlated with T-score. Patients taking bisphosphonates, with older age and with treatments longer than 6 months presented poor adherence to medication. Age, menopause and family history of osteoporosis were risk factors for the disease. Age and the duration of treatment are factors that exacerbate the poor adherence.