Factors associated with stress fracture in young army women: indications for further research.
Several factors which affect bone density and predict risk of osteoporosis (e.g., ethnic origin, amenorrhea) are reportedly associated with a higher incidence of stress fracture in active premenopausal women. The authors surveyed 2,312 active duty Army women for the prevalence of ever having been diagnosed ("told by a doctor") with a stress fracture (16.1% of respondents) and examined the relationship between surveyable risk factors for low bone density and this self-reported stress fracture history (self-reported SF). Current smoking, previous history of amenorrhea (menses absent greater than 6 months), and known family history of osteoporosis were significantly associated with self-reported SF, while black ethnic origin was a protective factor. These data suggest hypotheses of stress fracture pathogenesis in Army women which bear further testing.
Friedl
K E
KE
Division of Occupational Physiology, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA 01760-5007.
Nuovo
J A
JA
Patience
T H
TH
Dettori
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000150:complications; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology