Mass Screening for Osteoporosis in Nansei The Nansei Study (The Second Report)

• Published in: Nihon Rōnen Igakkai zasshi Vol. 32; no. 11; pp. 715 - 721
• Main Authors: Tsuneoka, Katsunobu, Kakimoto, Hitoshi, Kuniyoshi, Mikio, Konishi, Tokuji, Nakano, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japan Geriatrics Society 01.11.1995
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Bone Density; Bone mineral density; Female; Humans; Japan; Live alone; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; Osteoporosis - prevention & control; Japan
• ISSN: 0300-9173
• DOI: 10.3143/geriatrics.32.715

We performed screening for osteoporosis for the early detection of a decrease in the bone mineral density. The subjects consisted of 852 inhabitants (308 males and 544 females) aged 40 years or more in Nansei (population, 12, 107) in Mie Prefecture. Interviews, measurement of height and body weight, blood examination, and determination of the bone mineral density by the MD method were performed. In addition, a questionnaire on diet was carried out. The bone mineral density was decreaed in 76 subjects (8.9%), of whom females were the majority. Height and body weight were significantly lower in the group with decreased bone mineral density than in the group with normal bone mineral density. The serum calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and inorganic phosphorus (P) levels were similar in the two groups. Concerning the family profile, the percentage of subjects living alone was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the group with decreased bone mineral density (13.5%) than in the group with normal bone mineral density (3.6%). Screening for osteoporosis is still in the trial stage and involves various problems that require further studies. As subjects for screening, females before, during, and immediately after menopause are important.