Does pregnancy in adolescence increase the chances of osteoporosis among aged women? Findings from the ELSI study

Objective

Bone mineral density changes during the life span, rising rapidly during adolescence, plateauing around 30 years of age and decreasing in later years. Life events such as pregnancy and lactation temporarily reduce bone density, and their long-term effects on osteoporosis development are still unclear. This study aimed to analyse the association between pregnancy in adolescence and osteoporosis in aged women.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted with data from the ELSI-Brazil baseline (2015–2016). The sample consisted of 2634 women aged 60 years old or over with complete information for the variables of interest. Data collection was conducted through individual home interviews and physical assessments. The dependent variable was osteoporosis and the independent variable of interest was pregnancy in adolescents under 20 years of age. The association between the variables was tested using multiple logistic regression.

Results

The prevalence of osteoporosis was 32%, and the percentage of women who reported pregnancy in adolescence was 38%. After adjusting for socio-economic and health variables, an association was observed between pregnancy in adolescence and osteoporosis (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.09–1.73), which indicates that specific bone health interventions for teenage mothers could help prevent osteoporosis later in life.

Conclusion

Women who reported pregnancy before age 20 were more likely to report osteoporosis in old age, indicating that pregnancy in adolescence can be a criterion for directing actions to prevent osteoporosis in aged women.