Prevalence of vertebral fracture in population older than 50 years in Asturias (Spain) defined following different radiological criteria

BACKGROUND: In spite of vertebral fracture is one of the most frequent oste oporotic fracture, the epidemiology of this entity remains unknown. The aim of this Study was to know the prevalence of vertebral fracture in Oviedo ( Spain), according to the most used radiologjc criteria in research. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A random sample of 624 men and women older than 50 ye ars from the Oviedo's municipality took part in this analysis. All particip ants performed two thoracic and lumbar spinal lateral radiographs. In 615 s ubjects the presence of vertebral fracture was performed using a semicuanti tative radiological criteria (Genant) and two morphometric criteria (Eastel l and McCloskey), RESULTS: Prevalence of vertebral fracture varies between 17.4 and 24.6%, ac cording to the radiological criteria used. The prevalence was higher in wom en than in men, but the differences were lower than expected, and there was a relative high frequency of vertebral fractures in men from 50 to 65 year s old. In both sexes, prevalence of vertebral fracture increased with age, although in a steeper manner in women. The incidence of vertebral fracture in women was almost twice than in men. The incidence increased with age. Ev ery ten years the prevalence of vertebral fracture increased two times. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of vertebral fracture was high in women and men old er than 50 years, mainly in women older than 70 years, independently of the radiological criteria used. The average prevalence of vertebral fracture i n Oviedo (Spain) has been similar to that observed in studies of American, European and Asian populations.