Osteoporosis risk factors: Association with use of hormone replacement therapy and with worry about osteoporosis

Objectives: To determine whether postmenopausal women with risk factors for osteoporosis are more likely to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or t o worry about osteoporosis than women without risk factors. Method: Cross-sectional survey of postmenopausal women at the Women Veteran Comprehensive Health Center. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 230 postmenopausal women who answered the questionnaire (me an age 55.7 years), 167 (72%) reported ever having used HRT and 113 (49%) w orried about osteoporosis. Factors that were significantly associated (P < .05) with ever having used HRT were race, marital status, hysterectomy, wor ry about osteoporosis, and being aware that HRT reduces the risk of osteopo rosis; however, no other risk factors for osteoporosis were associated with HRT use, nor was having the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Women who worried a bout osteoporosis were significantly more likely to be under age 60; to hav e a family history of osteoporosis, poor self-rated current health, and ost eoporosis as a medical condition; to be aware that HRT reduces the risk of osteoporosis; and to have used HRT (P < .05). Conclusions: Among risk factors for osteoporosis, only family history was a ssociated with worry about osteoporosis, while white race was the only risk factor associated with HRT use in our cohort of postmenopausal woman veter ans. This may represent a lack of awareness and knowledge about osteoporosi s and its sequelae and about the benefits of HRT. An understanding of patie nt awareness of risk factors for osteoporosis and their motivations to take HRT can be valuable when counseling women on their decision to use HRT or other medications to prevent osteoporosis.