Osteoporosis awareness has been investigated in 60 years of age and over cases with osteoporotic fracture

OBJECTIVE: In our study, osteoporosis awareness and the conditions that effect this awareness has been investigated in 60 years of age and over cases with osteoporotic fracture. In order to prevent a possible new fracture after osteoporotic fracture, awareness of the patients should be raised, practices for prevention and treatment should be initiated.MATERIALS & METHOD: A total of 62 patients (34 female, 28 male) with osteoporotic fracture were included in the study. A history of high energy trauma, patients under 60 years of age and the cases with non-osteoporotic fracture were assessed as exclusion criteria. Patients were examined for osteoporosis awareness and the risk factors.Patients were measured for biochemical parameters such as thyroid function tests, PTH, Ca, urea, creatine along with haemogram and Ca, P levels in urine. We have KMY measured with DXA in undiagnosed patients. We've investigated the difference between the patients with osteoporosis plus awareness and the patients with osteoporosis and without awareness in terms of the demographic information and the biochemical parameters.The statistical assessment of the data input into computer with SPSS 17.0 packaged software has been carried out with student t, chi-square and Mann Whitney U tests.RESULTS: It was determined that half of the patients (n=31) had osteoporosis awareness while the other half was without awareness. It has been found that 26 of the patients (42 %) were female and 5 of the patients (8%) were male who had osteoporosis awareness and there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) between genders.A statistically significant difference (p=0.001) for the age distribution was detected between the case groups with and without osteoporosis awareness.It was determined that 20 (32.2 %) of the patients have continued treatment and 11 (17.7 %) of the patients had discontinued treatment. A family history of osteoporosis also effects the osteoporosis awareness significantly (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: Orthopaedic surgeons should have a further task in raising awareness of the patients and their continue in treatment.KEY WORDS: Osteoporosis, awareness, fracture risk, treatment