Delhi people at high risk of osteoporosis, study says

New Delhi : A new study reveals that people in the capital city of India are at a high risk of suffering from brittle bones which can lead to fractures while bending over, coughing and other simple daily life acts.

About 60% of the people in Delhi, including men and women, were observed suffering from osteopenia and 9 % already are patients of osteoporosis.

Osteopenia is a medical condition in which bone mineral density is lower than normal. Doctors say that it is the sign to osteoporosis that causes bones to become weak and brittle -- so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture.

This important study was done by the Orthopaedics Department of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The findings including other details of the study was published in the March edition of the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).

Accordingly, a survey conducted among people living in Delhi areas like Sukhdev Vihar, Sarita Vihar, Kalkaji, East of Kailash and Mayur Vihar.

"In our study, the presence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was found to be higher in the urban Indian population. A high incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was observed in the studied population," said Raju Vaishya, orthopaedic surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital as well as one of the authors of the study

He said a important sexual relationship, parent history of fracture and secondary osteoporosis was found in the present study "whereas alcohol and steroid intake were not found to be significantly associated with the low T-scores".

Osteoporosis-related fractures commonly happen in the hip, wrist or spine. It is generally considered a 'silent disease' until a fracture occurs. Every year around nine million fractures take place worldwide. Osteopenia is a situation characterised by bone loss which is not as severe as in osteoporosis. 

Vaishya said a low-level of bone density could direct to a serious socio-economic trouble in near future as the population of the elderly is bound to increase.

Identification of patients who are at risk of developing osteoporosis and adequate treatment can prevent long-term morbidity due to osteoporotic fractures.

"Unfortunately, most population is largely unaware of the serious complications associated with osteoporosis. Even in the absence of a large scale cross-sectional study, hip fractures (HFs) are considered common and the peak incidence of osteoporotic HF is in younger age, around 50-60 years." he added