Evaluation of secondary causes that may lead to bone loss in women with osteoporosis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

Secondary causes (SC) that may lead to bone loss and their frequencies have been rarely studied among the population with osteoporosis. In this study, we aimed to describe the frequencies of SC in women with osteoporosis based on outpatient clinic data.

METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review of 1,004 osteoporotic women (947 postmenopausal; 57 premenopausal) attended to our outpatient clinic at a tertiary-care centre between March 1998-July 2005. SC and their frequencies were detected in their patient data.

RESULTS

At least one SC was observed in 221 patients (22%). A total of 200 of them were at postmenopausal stage and 21 of them were at premenopausal stage. Hypercalciuria (n = 94), thyrotoxicosis (n = 39), and glucocorticoid therapy (n = 29) were the most common disorders in our patient group.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of SC that may lead to bone loss among women with osteoporosis is not as low as estimated. All premenopausal osteoporosis patients should be examined for SC. SC should be also taken into account postmenopausal patients as well.