The population-based prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fracture and densitometric osteoporosis in postmenopausal women over 50 in Valencia, Spain (the FRAVO study).
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of vertebral fracture and densitometric osteoporosis in postmenopausal women over the age of 50 in Valencia, Spain.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006-2007. An age-stratified population-based random sample of 824 postmenopausal women over the age of 50 answered a questionnaire and received a densitometric examination of the lumbar spine and hip with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and a lateral X-ray of the thoracic spine and lumbar regions. Osteoporosis was defined as a T-score less than or equal to -2.5 compared to a population of young women, and the presence of vertebral fractures was classified according to Genant's semiquantitative method.


RESULTS
The average age of the women was 64 years (range 50-87 years). The prevalence for all vertebral fractures was 21.4% (95% CI: 17.7%-25.1%) and 9.7% (95% CI: 6.7%-12.7%) for moderate-severe fractures. In women over the age of 75, the respective values were 46.3% (95% CI: 34.2%-58.3%) and 23.9% (95% CI:13.6%-34.2%). Only 1.5% of the women with vertebral fractures were aware of their condition. The prevalence of osteoporosis was estimated as 27.0% (95% CI:23.1%-30.8%) for the lumbar spine, 15.1% (95% CI:11.7%-18.5%) in the femoral neck, and 31.8% (95% CI:27.8%-35.7%) at either sites.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms that osteoporosis (1 in 3 women over the age of 50) and vertebral fracture (1 in 5 for all fractures and 1 in 10 for moderate-severe fractures) constitute a major public health and healthcare challenge; measuring their real impact will depend in part on the criteria used to define a fracture.
Sanfélix-Genovés
José
J
Centro Superior de Investigación en Salud Pública (CSISP), Health Services Research Unit, Valencia, Spain. sanfelix_jos@gva.es
Reig-Molla
Begoña
B
Sanfélix-Gimeno
Gabriel
G
Peiró
Salvador
S
Graells-Ferrer
Magdalena
M
Vega-Martínez
Maria
M
Giner
Vicente
V
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires