Osteoporosis in older patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Both osteoporosis and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus may increase the risk of falls and fractures. This study showed that osteoporosis is more common in older patients with iNPH. It is important to raise awareness of osteoporosis in older patients with iNPH to prevent adverse health consequences.

Purpose: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), a potentially reversible condition with timely intervention, may cause cognitive impairment, balance and gait disturbance, and urinary incontinence in advanced age. Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic bone disease that increases bone fragility in older adults. Both conditions may lead to falls and fractures. Therefore, this study aims to investigate osteoporosis in older adults with iNPH.

Methods: A total of 64 patients diagnosed with iNPH and 458 participants in the control group were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, sex, comorbidities, laboratory findings, and comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters, were recorded. Osteoporosis was defined according to the WHO classification. The relationship between osteoporosis and iNPH was assessed with regression analysis.

Results: The mean age was higher in the iNPH group than in the control group (79.91 ± 6.36 vs 75.86 ± 6.51 years, p < 0.001). The frequency of female patients was higher in the control group than in the iNPH group (81% vs 70.3%, p = 0.046). The osteoporosis frequency was higher in the iNPH group than in the controls (51.6% vs 32.1%, p = 0.002). Adjusted for age and gender, iNPH was associated with osteoporosis (odds ratio (OR), 1.750; confidence interval (CI) 95%, 1.002-3.054; p = 0.049).

Conclusions: This study showed that osteoporosis is more common in older patients with iNPH. Therefore, screening and treatment of osteoporosis in these individuals is crucial to avoid adverse health outcomes such as fractures.