BONE MASS DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of age, years since menopause and b ody weight on bone mass density (BMD) in 283 patients. Methods: Bone m ass density was assessed by bone computerized mineralometry at two sit es of the forearm. Results: The mean distal BMD and ultra BMD in the p ostmenopausal group were negatively correlated with age (P < 0.001, r= -0.48 and P < 0.001, r = 0.50, respectively) and years since menopaus e (P < 0.001, r = -0.32 and P < 0.001, r = -0.33, respectively). When body-mass index was regressed against distal and ultra distal BMD, pos itive correlations were found (P = 0.008 and P = 0.007). Conclusions: From our data, forearm computerized mineralometry seems to be a reliab le method for the evaluation of the effects of age and body-mass index an bone mass. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obs tetrics.