3 out of 5 Mumbai women suffer from brittle bones: Nanavati Hospital study

The Nanavati Hospital conducted a study among 1021 women and found that 27 per cent of them had osteoporosis, while 64 per cent had osteopenia. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia increased with age.

Dr Gayatri Deshpande, Senior Consultant, and Dr Janvi Lalchandani, Assistant Medical Officer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, of the hospital screened over 5034 patients’ data during a period of 18 months, from September 2021 to February 2023.

To avoid clinical bias, the researchers excluded high-risk groups such as women with a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia, current or past history of cancer, and fractures and only considered women over the age of 40 years. Four major sites of bone degeneration – lumbar region, femoral neck, 1/3 femur, and total body – were considered to determine the prevalence of these conditions.

After excluding high-risk groups, the study analysed data from 1921 women, aged between 40-95 years, who underwent Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan which measures bone mass density.

Surprisingly, of the 1921 women studied, 519 or 27 per cent had osteoporosis, while 1222 or 64 per cent had osteopenia. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia increased with age, with almost half the women (48 per cent) in the age group of 61-80 developing osteopenia of the femoral neck—part of the thigh bone that connects to the hip joint. Osteopenia of the femoral neck multiplies the risk of hip fractures and causes loss of mobility, balance, significant disability, reduced quality of life, and even mortality in some cases. Osteopenia of the femoral neck can also impact mobility, balance, and overall physical function, which can further affect a person’s independence and well-being.

One out of five participants was diagnosed with osteoporosis in the lumbar region, increasing the risks of compression fractures of the vertebrae and spinal deformity, such as dowager’s hump, which can affect breathing and increase the risk of falls.

Dr Deepak Patkar, Head, Imaging and Director (Medical Services), whose team performed the DEXA scans, said the higher number of post-menopausal women complaining of severe backache and joint pain, prompted the clinicians to analyse the BMD data of women who undergo regular health check-up. “Steroids use or abuse, chronic smoking and alcohol consumption and eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, most commonly cause bone degeneration in teen and younger women. Moreover, estrogen—responsible for improving bone health and reducing calcium degeneration from the bones, depletes drastically after menopause. This increases the chances of bone decay in older women,” he said while discussing the objectives and risk factors of the study.

Started as a retrospective study, it will continue as a prospective study until 2025. “The results have been quite surprising and it’s alarming to know very few women are aware of this,” Dr Deshpande added.

The study’s results highlight the importance of targeted screening and prevention strategies. While osteopenia can be maintained, osteoporosis cannot be reversed. Thus, routine check-ups, including bone density scans specifically performed using DEXA technology, are recommended for women over the age of 30 every five years.

“Women, on a daily basis, suffer in silence during simple tasks such as kneading the dough, twisting a doorknob, car steering or even walking on a slippery floor or sandy beach. Bone fractures caused by these conditions can result in hospitalisation, surgery, and long-term disability. Studies such as these will help us prevent these conditions in future,” said Dr Deshpande.

Regular check-ups are also crucial in maintaining good bone health. During check-ups, doctors can evaluate the risk of osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases by assessing the patient’s medical history, lifestyle factors, and family history. Based on the evaluation, doctors can recommend preventive measures, such as Calcium and Vitamin D supplements, weight-bearing exercises, and medications.