Study of incidence of osteoporotic fractures in a cohort of individuals older than 50 years from Asturias, Spain, after a 6 year follow-up period

BACKGROUND: The present work, performed as follow-up of the prevalence stud y of vertebral fractures (EVOS Study), evaluates in a 6 year period the inc idence of vertebral fractures and other osteoporotic fractures in Oviedo (A sturias, Spain) in people alder than 50 yeats. SUBJECTS ANO METHODS: The study was performed in a cohort from the Oviedo's local registry in 1986. 624 men and women were followed by 3 postal questi onnaires. The first questionnaire referred to the history of fails and frac tures that happened during the follow-up period performed. Between the 2(nd ) and 3(rd) follow-up subjects were invited to repeat the X-rays previously performed in the initial study. RESULTS: The incidence of osteoporotic fractures was higher in women than i n men. In both sexes, vertebral fracture was the one which reached the high est incidence. Compared with men, Colles' fracture in women occurred earlie r, with 5 times higher incidence. The incidence of hip fracture was twice h igher in women than in men. A prevalent vertebral fractures increased until 5 times the incidence of vertebral and hip fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Among the osteoporotic fractures, vertebral fracture bad a hig hest incidence values in both sexes. Although vertebral and hip fractures w ere twice incident in women compared with men, the incidence of Colles frac ture was five times higher in women. A pre-existing vertebral fracture is a n important risk factor to develop a new vertebral or hip fracture.