title: Epidemiology of osteoporosis in an isolated Sardinian population by using quantitative ultrasound.
abstract: This study aimed at estimating the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in a Sardinian isolated population using hand quantitative ultrasound and at investigating the associated factors. The authors utilized a subset of data from a large population-based epidemiologic survey carried out in the Ogliastra region of Sardinia between 2003 and 2008. The sample consists of 6,326 men and women aged ≥30 years, who underwent quantitative ultrasound at the phalanges, bioelectrical impedance, anthropometric measurements, blood tests, and a standardized epidemiologic questionnaire collecting sociodemographic, lifestyle, medical, physiologic, and pharmacologic data. The T-score thresholds for amplitude-dependent speed of sound of -3.2 standard deviations and between -3.2 and -1 standard deviations were used to diagnose osteoporosis and osteopenia, respectively. Prevalence of osteoporosis was 17.0% in women and 5.2% in men. Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with osteoporosis were age, anthropometric and bioimpedance measures, alkaline phosphatase levels, and menopause in women. High education, exercise, and beer consumption seem to be protective factors, whereas a family history of osteoporosis is a risk factor. Results show that osteoporosis in this population is comparable with that found in different countries, suggesting that quantitative ultrasound could be used more widely to detect high-risk individuals for preventing osteoporotic fractures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Sassari, Italy. biino@igm.cnr.it
authors.forename: Ginevra
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casula
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Terlizzi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaccargiu
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casti
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atzori
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirastu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography