[High prevalence of osteoporosis in asymptomatic postmenopausal Mapuche women].
BACKGROUND
Genetic and environmental factors are responsible for variations in the frequency of osteoporosis. Prevalence of osteoporosis in Mapuche women (native Chileans) is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and risk factors for osteoporosis in Mapuche women.


METHODS
A random sample of 95 asymptomatic postmenopausal Mapuche females, stratified by age, was studied. Women with diseases or medications that could interfere with calcium metabolism were excluded. Spine and femoral neck bone mass density was determined using a Lunar DPX Alpha densitometer.


RESULTS
Seventeen percent of women had normal bone mineral density in both spine and femoral neck. In the spine, 25.3% had a normal bone mineral density, 17.9% had osteopenia and 56.8% had osteoporosis. In the femoral neck, 34.7% had a normal bone mineral density, 57.9% had osteopenia, and 7.4% had osteoporosis. There was a positive correlation between bone mineral density and body mass index. Women with more than one hour per day of physical activity, had a significantly lower proportion of osteopenia or osteoporosis. No association between bone mineral density and parity or calcium intake, was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis among Mapuche women. Osteoporosis was associated with low body mass index.
Ponce
Lucía
L
Unidad de Reumatología, Facultad de Medicina, Casilla 54-D, Temuco. poncel@terra.cl
Larenas
Gladys
G
Riedemann
Pablo
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology