title: Prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fracture in Spanish women over age 45.
abstract: The aim of this work is to study the prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in Spanish women over 45 years of age, based on the selection of a nationwide sample. An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted during 2006, in all of Spain's regions. The sample analyzed was of 5000 individuals, representative of the female population over age 45 in Spain. A questionnaire was used to determine which factors are most often associated with vertebral fractures. We also assessed whether the Prevalent Vertebral Fracture Index, proposed by Vogt, is useful in indicating a possible osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Five hundred orthopedic surgeons, from various Spanish regions, were trained in different aspects of the study: inclusion and exclusion criteria, management of the risk factor questionnaire, and implementation of the Vogt questionnaire. The number of fracture cases was 1549 (31.79%). 528 Women (34.08%) had a single vertebral fracture, and 1021 (65.92%) had multiple vertebral fractures. The following factors were statistically significantly associated with vertebral fracture: age, late menarche, early menopause, diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, height loss, daily physical activity, corticosteroid therapy, personal history of osteoporotic fracture and previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. The differences in Vogt score according to age and fracture status were statistically significant. The conclusion of the study is that vertebral osteoporotic fracture in the female Spanish population is frequent. The high prevalence in the Spanish population older than 60 years is probably related to malnutrition in the period from 1936 to 1952.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: antonio.herrera@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Avda Isabel la Católica 3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: jmateoa@ono.com.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Avda Isabel la Católica 3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: jgilalba@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gil-Albarova
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, San Jorge Hospital, Avda Martínez de Velasco 36, 22004 Huesca, Spain; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: aloboescolar@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo-Escolar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Avda Isabel la Católica, 3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: jmartigas@salud.aragon.es.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Artigas
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, General University Hospital, Cí. Almassera 11, 03203 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Department of Surgery, Miguel Hernandez University, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: fernando.lopez@umh.es.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Prats
authors.affiliation: Unit of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Valle de los Pedroches Hospital, Juan del Rey Calero s/n. 14.400 Pozoblanco, Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: mmesar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna, 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: eibarz@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ibarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna, 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: lugravi@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gracia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008572:Menarche; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Osteoporosis; Risk factors; Spanish women; Vertebral fracture; Vogt's questionary