Three out of five women of Mumbai, over the age of 40 years, suffer from Osteopenia and one in four are diagnosed with Osteoporosis, discovered a study conducted by Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vile Parle, on International Women’s Day, which was celebrated on March 8.
Age, Vitamin D deficiency, menopause, chronic diabetes or kidney diseases, lack of physical exercise and sedentary habits are the precipitating factors for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia.
Dr. Gayatri Deshpande, Senior Consultant and Dr. Janvi Lalchandani, Assistant Medical Officer from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital screened over 5,034 patients’ data during a period of 18 months, from September 2021 to February 2023.
Highlight of the study are as follows:
- Three out of five women in Mumbai, over the age of 40, suffer from osteopenia, and one in four are diagnosed with osteoporosis.
- Of the 1,921 women studied, 27% had osteoporosis, while 64% had osteopenia. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia increased with age.
- Osteopenia of the femoral neck, which was found in almost half the women in the age group of 61-80, multiplies the risk of hip fractures and causes significant disability, reduced quality of life, and even mortality in some cases.
- The leading causes of osteoporosis and osteopenia are age, Vitamin D deficiency, menopause, diabetes, and lack of physical exercise.
- The study highlights the importance of targeted screening and prevention strategies, including routine check-ups and bone density scans using DEXA technology for women over the age of 30 every 5 years.