Thai Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis among working-age personnel at Ubon Ratchathani University
Keywords:
Osteoporosis, Risk factors, Bone mineral density, ScreeningAbstract
Thailand is rapidly transitioning into an aging society, leading to an increase in health-related problems, particularly osteoporosis, a major cause of disability. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis among personnel at Ubon Ratchathani University, as part of a national initiative to prevent disease. A total of 256 staff members aged 45 years and older were screened using the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA) and additional risk factors based on the Ministry of Public Health guidelines. Of these, 115 participants (44.9%) were identified as at risk, with the most common risk factor being a family history of osteoporosis or fragility fractures (7.03%), followed by early menopause before the age of 45 (5.86%) and history of steroid use (5.08%). Among the volunteers, 73 individuals with a mean age of 51 years underwent Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan. The results showed that 72.6% had normal bone mass, 24.7% had osteopenia, and 2.73% had osteoporosis, which are lower than prevalence rates reported in both Asian and global populations. These findings underscore the importance of proactive screening to identify individuals at risk and prevent early bone loss. They also highlight the need for community-based preventive programs and further long-term studies to reduce the burden of osteoporosis in aging societies.
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