The prospective evaluation of the osteoporotic vertebral fractures incidence in a random population sample

Introduction Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are mostly incidental but in some patients may lead to clinical symptoms, characteristic deformations of the vertebral column and increase total mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and risk factors for osteoporosis in a random sample of Szczecin inhabitants aged over 50 in the relation to the whole European population examined in the frame of EVOS (European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study) and its prospective phase - EPOS (European Prospective Osteoporosis Study). At the baseline, 607 persons were studied, including 301 women and 306 men. Material and methods The questionnaire on the risk factors for osteoporosis and the spine X-rays analysed by morphometry, were taken in all subjects. The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral deformity in the studied population was similar in both sexes (12.6% women and 10,3% men) but in men aged 50-64 fracture incidence was significantly higher in comparison with women. The prevalence of new vertebral fractures examined after 4 years was higher in women than in men (9.1 vs 6.4/1000 persons years). Among the risk factors for osteoporosis, low physical activity and prolonged immobilization in women significantly influenced the incidence of vertebral deformities. Conclusions: 1) The study shows the high incidence of risk factors and osteoporotic vertebral deformities in the population of Szczecin inhabitants aged over 50. 2) Visual assessment only with a combination with morphometry is an optimal tool for detection of incident vertebral fractures.