BONE-DENSITY PROFILES AND OSTEOPOROSIS INCIDENCE IN IRISH FEMALES

1725 Irish females aged 15-70+ were included in this analysis to estab lish the group bone mineral density (BMD) profiles, Each subject was s creened for 27 risk factors bg questionnaire. Subjects were segregated into normal (N) and nan-normal (NN) subgroups on the basis of the que stionnaire, BMD of lumbar spine and hip were measured by dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA), A substantial difference in BMD at all sit es was observed between subgroups even following adjustment for body m ass index and years of exposure to oestrogen, In the subgroup designat ed as non-normal 42%, 54%, 72% and 69% of those studied had spinal BMD levels > 2SD below mean peak at 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70+ respectiv ely, In comparison, similar age cohorts in the subgroup designated nor mal were 26%, 46% 44% and 68% respectively. A marked difference was al so observed in the younger age groups (15-34) where the percentage of individuals with spinal BMD levels > 2SD below mean peak was <1.9% for N and 18.8% for NN, The results of this study suggest that the use of a questionnaire may be a valuable low cost screening tool in the youn ger groups.