INFLUENCE OF THE MENOPAUSAL AGE ON THE SEVERITY OF OSTEOPOROSIS IN WOMEN WITH VERTEBRAL FRACTURES

To assess the effect of age at the onset of menopause over the skeleto n we have determined the age and cause of menopause and bone mineral d ensity (BMD), by dual and single photon absorptiometry of the lumbar s pine, the proximal femur and the radius shaft on 1050 osteoporotic wom en (suffering with at least one atraumatic vertebral fracture). The me an +/- 1 S.D. menopausal age was 47.1 +/- 7.6 years. The onset of meno pause occurred prior to age 45 in 22% (premature), after age 52 in 9% (late), and between 45 and 52 years of age in 69% (normal menopausal a ge). When the osteoporotic women were categorized into three groups ac cording to the age of menopause, those osteoporotic with premature men opause had a significantly greater frequency of hip fractures, a signi ficantly lower age, weight and BMD over the spine, proximal femur and radius shaft compared with those of normal menopausal age. In turn, pa tients with late menopause had a significantly increased weight and BM D over the spine. These findings indicate that among patients with ver tebral osteoporosis those women with premature menopause had a more se vere bone loss and a significantly greater frequency of hip fractures.