A cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women found an association between osteoporosis and past gastric surgery or oral corticosteroids.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between osteoporosis and the presence of specific and nonspecific medical conditions in postmenopausal women. To what extent is this relationship useful in detecting osteoporosis in daily general practice.


METHODS
Subjects were 1,684 postmenopausal women registered with 23 general practitioners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done with 52 disease variables and 24 biometrical and lifestyle variables, using BMD as the dependent variable. Bivariate analysis was performed to calculate their contribution to the risk of having osteoporosis.


RESULTS
Having more than one disease was associated with a lower prevalence of osteoporosis. A positive association with the presence of osteoporosis was only found for the use of corticosteroids, gastric surgery, and cervical complaints. The risk for osteoporosis in the high risk category increased from 39 to 71% in women using oral corticosteroids, from 39 to 56% in women with a history of gastric surgery, and from 39 to 63% in women with cervical complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical relevance of medical conditions for detecting osteoporosis is limited. However, all patients using oral corticosteroids and patients with a history of gastric surgery should be checked for the presence of osteoporosis. Cervical compaints in the high risk category was associated with osteoporosis.
van der Voort
D J M
DJ
Department of General Practice and Care and Public Health Research Institute, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. djmvdvoo@knmg.nl
Geusens
P P
PP
Dinant
G J
GJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones