Prevalence of Osteoporosis in adults aged 40 years and above at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

Background: Osteoporosis is a global problem with a high prevalence in developed countries and an increasing trend in developing countries. Studies on the incidence of osteoporosis in Zambia are not documented. However, some recent data in other countries have shown an increase in this disease but awareness of this condition is sorely lacking among the population as well as health authorities, making it difficult to determine the extent of the concern in Zambia. Since the prevalence of this disease has not yet been established at the study site, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis among adult patients aged 40 years and above at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Methods: This retrospective study involved the retrieving of document data from 76 patients, aged 40 years and above, who had bone mineral density reports. Results: The study results showed that 32.9% of the patients had osteoporosis, 43.4% had osteopenia, while 23.7% had normal bone mass. Among the male patients, 47.6% had osteoporosis while 27.3% had osteoporosis among the females. However, the chi-square results at 5% level of significance showed that both men and women have an equal chance of acquiring osteoporosis (p=0.091). This study also showed a direct association between osteoporosis and age. The study established that the likelihood of being diagnosed with osteoporosis increased with age (p=0.015). Conclusion: These findings show that the prevalence of osteoporosis and its associated factors is quite high among adults above the age of 45 years.