Fracture risk assessment in Latin America: is Frax an adaptable instrument for the region?

Osteoporosis is a generalized disease of bone that increases fracture risk. Multiple factors influence this risk, besides low bone mass. To decrease osteoporotic fractures, those patients who require preventive management should be readily identified. This paper aims to review current information on the use of the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) in Latin America. Bone mineral density measurement is currently the method of reference for evaluating the fracture risk and opting for treatment; but, it misses a notable proportion of individuals who have clinical risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures. FRAX was designed to predict the 10-year absolute risk of sustaining a major osteoporotic fracture or a hip fracture. Although data is available for several countries, from Latin America, only Argentina appears in the current version of the tool. Its present use in other Latin American countries is possible with some adaptations based in similarities of epidemiological information of each country with some of the existing databases. The cutoff value beyond which treatment should be initiated needs to be determined, based not only on clinical criteria, but also on economic considerations.

Risk factors of vertebral fractures in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of the current study was to analyze the role of traditional and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related risk factors in the development of vertebral fractures. A cross-sectional study was performed in women with SLE attending a single center. A vertebral fracture was defined as a reduction of at least 20% of vertebral body height. Two hundred ten patients were studied, with median age of 43 years and median disease duration of 72 months. Osteopenia was present in 50.3% of patients and osteoporosis in 17.4%. At least one vertebral fracture was detected in 26.1%. Patients with vertebral fractures had a higher mean age (50 +/- 14 vs. 41 +/- 13.2 years, p = 0.001), disease damage (57.1% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.001), lower bone mineral density (BMD) at the total hip (0.902 +/- 0.160 vs. 982 +/- 0.137 g/cm(2), p = 0.002), and postmenopausal status (61.9% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.048). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that only age (p = 0.001) and low BMD at the total hip (p = 0.007) remained as significant factors for the presence of vertebral fracture. The high prevalence of vertebral fractures in the relatively young population implies that more attention must be paid to detect and treat vertebral fractures.

Risks factors for low bone mineral density in pre-menopausal Mexican women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 pre-menopausal patients with SLE. Patients were evaluated using a questionnaire about the following variables: age, disease duration, disease activity, chronic disease damage, cumulative corticosteroid dose, and history of fracture. Lumbar spine and hip measurements of BMD were performed by dual absorptiometry. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to assess the relationship between risk factors and BMD. The mean age was 32.8 +/- 8.7 years, and the median duration of SLE was 73.2 +/- 65 months. The mean cumulative corticosteroid dose was 20.0 +/- 21.3 g. The mean BMD was 1.09 +/- .18 g/cm(2) in the lumbar spine and 1.0 +/- .14 g/cm(2) in the hip. Osteopenia was present in 40% of patients and osteoporosis in 5%. In the multiple regression analysis, low BMD in the lumbar spine was associated with chronic disease damage and low body mass index (BMI). Low BMD in the hip was associated with cumulative corticosteroid dose and low BMI. Chronic disease damage, low BMI, and cumulative corticosteroid dose are risks factors for low BMD in pre-menopausal SLE patients. Osteopenia was found in 40% of patients, while osteoporosis was found in only 5%.

Morfometría vertebral radiológica: valores de índices, alturas y áreas vertebrales en columnas dorsal y lumbar de mujeres mexicanas: estudio multicéntrico / Radiological vertebral morphometry: vertebral indices, heights and areas in thoracic and lumbar spine in Mexican women: multicentric study

La morfolometría vertebral (MV) es un método empleado para la medición de contornos vertebrales en placas radiográficas de columna. Nuestro objetivo fue establecer valores normales de alturas, áreas e índices de deformidad vertebral en mujeres mexicanas sanas para poder ser empleados en estudios de MV. Evaluamos los cambios producidos por el envejecimiento en alturas y áreas vertebrales entre mujeres jóvenes (40-59 años) y mujeres ancianas (60-79 años). Se evaluaron 130 MV de columna dorsal y lumbar; se midieron alturas y áreas vertebrales T4-L5 y se calcularon índices de deformidad vertebral. Se encontró un aumento en la altura anterior (Aa) y posterior (Ap) de las vértebras T4-L3 pero en L4-L5 Ap fue inferior que Aa. El aumento promedio en Aa de T4-T8 fue de 1.1 mm mientras que de T8 a L3 fue de 10.9 mm. El aumento progresivo en el tamaño de los cuerpos vertebrales condiciona un aumento en el área vertebral. El aumento promedio del área vertebral T4-L3 fue 8.2 cm. La comparación entre mujeres jóvenes y ancianas indican que no hay diferencias en los valores absolutos de alturas vertebrales; sin embargo, los índices de contorno vertebrales (ICV) muestran: el índice por ciento Acuñamiento y el índice por ciento Concavidad aumentan con la edad de T8-T10 mientras que el Indice por ciento Compresión Específica es mayor en todos los niveles vertebrales en las mujeres de mayor edad

El cuello del fémur en la tercera edad: estudio multicéntrico de la densidad mineral / The femoral neck in the third age: multicentric study

Durante un período de 6 meses en tres centros de investigación (León, Puebla y Querétaro), se estudiaron 374 casos que fueron enviados por primera vez para su examen, siendo requisito una edad mínima de 60 años. Todos los casos correspondieron al sexo femenino; la edad promedio fue de 69.25 años ñ 6.54, con límites entre 60 a 91 años. El 56 por ciento abarcó la década de 60 a 69 (208 casos), el 37 por ciento de los 70 a los 79 años (138 casos) y el 7 por ciento (28 casos) de los 80 años en adelante. En los tres centros de diagnostico se determinó la densidad mineral ósea en el cuello del fémur y se aplicaron los criterios de Johnston para interpretar los resultados. Estos revelaron un 65 por ciento de pacientes osteoporóticos, 24 por ciento de osteopénicos y sólo 17 por ciento de casos normales. De acuerdo con estos hallazgos, la osteoporosis parece ser muy frecuente en la etapa geriátrica, por lo que la cuantificación de la densidad mineral ósea en la actualidad es el mejor recurso para tomar decisiones clínicas y detectar casos con alto riesgo de fracturas de la cadera