The spatial variation of diagnosis of osteoporosis in Morecambe Bay

• Main Author: Oldroyd, Alexander
• Published: Lancaster University 2012
• Subjects: 616.7
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.662194

Osteoporosis IS a common condition of the elderly population. No study has investigated factors that may influence the extent of geographical variation of osteoporosis diagnosis. Objectives This study aims to quantify the relationship between an individual's bone mineral density, osteoporosis and fragility fracture status and the distance between the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner and their place of residence and general practice. This study also aims to quantify the extent to which osteoporosis is diagnosed in the study region's 50-75 years of age population. Methods Data was collated from the DXA scanner of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Generalized linear modelling was used to investigate the factors that influence the following: osteoporosis status, previous fragility fracture status, lumbar spine T-score, femoral neck T-score and probability of undergoing a DXA scan. The proportion of osteoporotic individuals aged 50-75 years that have been diagnosed with a DXA scan was estimated by dividing the number of osteoporotic individuals aged 50-75 that were diagnosed with a DXA scan by the estimated number of osteoporotic individuals in the study region.