Abstract

SUAREZ, S.M. et al. Study of secondary causes of male osteoporosis. Rev. argent. endocrinol. metab. [online]. 2011, vol.48, n.2, pp.87-96. ISSN 1851-3034.

Male osteoporosis (OP) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease in the majority of men. One third of hip fractures occur in men, who present more secondary complications than women, with a mortality rate of 37.5 % within one year of facture. The observation that most fractures occur in men, whose bone mineral density is not in the osteoporotic range, highlights the importance of different factors others than bone densitometry to evaluate the risk of fracture. Aims: to establish the prevalence of secondary factors OP in men older than 50 years and to analyze the possible associations between bone mineral density and biochemical parameters. Retrospective analysis of 918 medical records of men over 50 years old, admitted because of OP, osteopenia or bone fractures in any location. Inclusion criteria: measurements of plasma and urinary bone metabolism parameters, total testosterone, lumbar spine, femoral neck and trochanter bone mineral density. Results: 113 patients met the inclusion criteria, the mean age was 70.6 ± 9.8 years, of which 85 (75.2 %) had OP diagnosis in one location and 28 (24.8 %) osteopenia. Of 113 patients assessed, 97 (85.8 %) had secondary OP causes, such as hypovitaminosis D, hypogonadism, chronic corticotherapy and hypercalciuria. Twenty two per cent of the patients had suffered a fracture without previous suspicion of low bone mass. Conclusions: A high proportion of men with OP present secondary factors. Most of these factors are diagnosed by history taking and biochemical study. The diagnosis of male OP is delayed as 22 % had suffered a fracture without previous suspicion of low bone mass. This indicates the importance of this issue and its early diagnosis and treatment in the male population.

Keywords : Male osteoporosis; Hypovitaminosis D; Secondary causes; Bone fracture.

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