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Predictors of low bone mass in postmenopausal Japanese women: a questionnaire-based study

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Abstract

Background

The burgeoning costs of nursing care and medical treatment have become a serious problem for Japan, a country with an aging population and declining birthrate. Disease prevention and control of runaway health care costs are two important issues. We are interested in osteoporosis in the elderly. Thus, we aimed to establish predictive factors of low bone mass or fracture in postmenopausal elderly women by means of a simple questionnaire.

Methods

Subjects were 107 postmenopausal Japanese women. All data in the present study were collected in 2006. The calcaneus stiffness index (SI) was determined by ultrasound bone densitometry. Urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), a marker of bone resorption, was measured. Factors related to bone loss and fracture were investigated by means of a questionnaire and tested by regression analysis and analysis of variance.

Results

The SI correlated significantly with age, years since menopause, weight, and the DPD level. Change in body weight did not influence the SI, but lumbar pain, height loss, and stoop did influence the SI. The SI was significantly low in subjects who had already suffered a fracture. Body mass index (BMI) was the strongest predictor of the SI.

Conclusion

Low bone mass or fracture may be predicted in part with a simple questionnaire that addresses personal factors related to bone health.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Ranko Ejiri for expert secretarial assistance. This work was supported in part by the Chiyoda Health Development Agency Foundation.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors confirm that there are no relevant associations that might pose a conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8513, Japan

    Fumihiro Omasu, Kazuo Yamakami & Yutaka Sakurai

  2. Department of Human System Science, Graduate School of Decision Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-W9-7 Ohokayama, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan

    Jun Kitagawa

  3. Ushiki Women’s Clinic, 2-3-79-5 Honcho, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, 189-0014, Japan

    Nobuyuki Ushiki

  4. Department of Health and Nutrition, School of Home Economics, Wayo Women’s University, 2-3-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-8533, Japan

    Yoshibumi Nakahara

Authors
  1. Fumihiro Omasu
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  2. Jun Kitagawa
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  3. Nobuyuki Ushiki
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  4. Kazuo Yamakami
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  5. Yutaka Sakurai
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  6. Yoshibumi Nakahara
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Correspondence to Fumihiro Omasu.

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Omasu, F., Kitagawa, J., Ushiki, N. et al. Predictors of low bone mass in postmenopausal Japanese women: a questionnaire-based study. J Public Health 17, 61–66 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-008-0216-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-008-0216-7

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