The prevalence of osteoporosis in the Hong Kong Chinese female population

Objectives: This paper aims to present population-based age-related bone ma ss values in the Hong Kong Chinese female population, and to assess the num ber and proportion of Chinese women considered osteoporotic according to th e WHO diagnostic guidelines. Methods: A total of 769 community-based female subjects were recruited. Social demographic characteristics of these subje cts were similar to the Hong Kong general population. AU bone mass measurem ents were performed by means of a dual energy X-ray densitometry (Norland X R 26) at two sites: lumbar vertebrae L2-L4 and left hip. These values were expressed as T-scores, with reference to the mean bone mineral density (BMD ) values of the group aged 21-40 years. Results: The study revealed that, i n women aged 60 years and above, their mean BMD values are 30% lower than t he young normal mean. The prevalence of osteoporosis at, the spine increase d dramatically from about 10% in the age group 50-59 to 45% in the group ag ed 60-69. In women aged 70 onwards, over half have osteoporosis at the hip. The prevalence of osteoporosis at the spine is relatively stable in the ag e groups above 60, while that for osteoporosis at the hip increased exponen tially with age. Conclusions: The prevalence of osteoporosis in Hong Kong w omen is comparable to that found in Caucasian populations. Prevention of os teoporosis, involving both immediate and long-term measures, and targeting at different age groups, are required to combat this serious public health problem in Hong Kong. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights res erved.