Bone Abstracts

Objective(s): We aimed to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and risk factors for bone demineralization in the Italian population.

Material and methods: 3090 consecutive subjects were screened for osteoporosis by using calcaneal quantitative ultrasounds (QUS) in 16 Italian cities (women: 2635; men: 455) during the extension of the FIRMO study carried out in 2011 on about 7000 people. Anamnestic data were collected to assess the presence of recognized risk factors such as poor sun exposure and calcium intake, physical activity, use of corticosteroids, and conditions associated to osteoporosis).

Results: The mean age was 58 years old. About 19% of examined people was affected by osteoporosis (n=587), while 31% presented osteopenia (n=958). About 15% of people had previous fractures due to low energy trauma, and 18.3% (n=566) disclosed familiar history of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Fourty percent of subjects were smokers (n=1256), but only 4% declared to assume regularly alcoolic drinks. About 17.5% (n=537) did not eat dairy products and 9.2% of people (n=285) was not practicing any kind of physical acticvity. Sun exposure was extremely scarce (<10 min/day) in 805 subjects (26.1%). The female gender, age, previous fractures and familiari history of osteoporososis were associated to a higher probability of being osteoporotic (P<0.05). FRAX value will be computed for each patient, and the results of this 2012 extension of the FIRMO study will be pooled together with those acheived in the previous screening campaign on 7000 subjects.

Conclusion(s): The study has confirmed that about 20% of Italian women aged 50–59 is osteoporotic, as determined in the ESOPO study carried out in year 2000.