[Prevalence of vertebral fracture in population older than 50 years in Asturias (Spain) defined following different radiological criteria].
BACKGROUND
In spite of vertebral fracture is one of the most frequent osteoporotic fracture, the epidemiology of this entity remains unknown. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of vertebral fracture in Oviedo (Spain), according to the most used radiologic criteria in research.


METHODS
A random sample of 624 men and women older than 50 years from the Oviedo's municipality took part in this analysis. All participants performed two thoracic and lumbar spinal lateral radiographs. In 615 subjects the presence of vertebral fracture was performed using a semicuantitative radiological criteria (Genant) and two morphometric criteria (Eastell and McCloskey).


RESULTS
Prevalence of vertebral fracture varies between 17.4 and 24.6%, according to the radiological criteria used. The prevalence was higher in women than in men, but the differences were lower than expected, and there was a relative high frequency of vertebral fractures in men from 50 to 65 years old. In both sexes, prevalence of vertebral fracture increased with age, although in a steeper manner in women. The incidence of vertebral fracture in women was almost twice than in men. The incidence increased with age. Every ten years the prevalence of vertebral fracture increased two times.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of vertebral fracture was high in women and men older than 50 years, mainly in women older than 70 years, independently of the radiological criteria used. The average prevalence of vertebral fracture in Oviedo (Spain) has been similar to that observed in studies of American, European and Asian populations.
Díaz López
J B
JB
Servicio de Metabolismo Oseo y Mineral. Instituto Reina Sofía de Investigación. Hospital Central de Asturias. Universidad de Oviedo.
Naves Díaz
M
M
Gómez Alonso
C
C
Fernández Martín
J L
JL
Rodríguez Rebollar
A
A
Cannata Andía
J B
JB
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*