Correlates of Osteoporosis among Jewish and Arab women aged 45-74 in Israel: National Women's Health interview study

Dorit Nitzan-Kaluski, Ayelet Chinich, Anneke Ifrah, Dafna Merom, Manfred S. Green

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and correlates of osteoporosis among middle-aged and elderly Jewish and Arab women in Israel. Design: A cross-sectional study on a random sample of Israeli women, carried out through telephone interviews. Questions included physician-diagnosed osteoporosis, demographic and lifestyle variables, medical conditions, and present and past use of estrogen-containing medications. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from reported height and weight. Setting: A national population-based survey conducted from March through August 1998. Participants: A national random sample of 888 women aged 45-74. Main Results: The overall prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis was estimated at 13.7%. The rates increased abruptly from about 5.8% at ages 45-59 to 19.6% at ages 60-64, and reached 27.7% at ages 70-74. Between ages 45-59, the rates were higher among Arab women, whereas in the older group they were higher among Jewish women. There was a marked increase following menopause. After adjustment for potential confounders, at ages 45-59, osteoporosis was positively associated with menopause and BMI, whereas at ages 60-74, it was positively associated with age and family history of osteoporosis, and negatively associated with BMI. Conclusions: The prevalence of physician-diagnosed osteoporosis in Israel among women aged 45-74 is estimated to be 13.7%, which is similar to that for the United States. The association of osteoporosis with risk factors is age-dependent, and in particular, age-BMI interaction on osteoporosis requires further investigation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17-23
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Gender-Specific Medicine
Volume6
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Physiology

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