Frequency of osteoporosis in an ambulatory setting in Lahore using quantitative calcaneal ultrasound

Objective: to find out the frequency of osteoporosis in an ambulatory setting using quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus and to compare it between age and gender sub-groups. methods: the cross-sectional survey was conducted at akhtar saeed trust teaching hospital, lahore, from july to december 2011 and comprised all those who visited the out-patient department of the hospital and agreed to participate in the study. quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus was done to diagnose osteoporosis. spss 20 was used for statistical analysis. results: of the 660 participants, 454 (68.8%) were women. the mean age of the participants was 34±11.8 years (range: 10-80 years). osteoporosis was present in 123 (18.6%) and osteopenia in 423 (64.1%) of the participants. females had greater prevalence of osteoporosis than males (n=101; 22% vs n=22; 10.7%; p<0.01). those with age >45 years had higher prevalence of osteoporosis than with age <45 years (n=33; 34% vs n=90; 16%, p<0.01). among the males with age >45 years, 20.6% had osteoporosis while among the females with age >45 years, 41.3% had osteoporosis. mean ages of participants with normal bone mineral density, osteopenia and osteoporosis were 30.6±8.7; 33.7±11.3; and 38.1±14.4 years respectively (p<0.01). conclusion: osteoporosis was found to be a common occurrence, affecting females over 45 years of age more than any other sub-group.