Screening Rural and Urban Indian Population for Osteoporosis Using Heel Ultrasound Bone Densitometer

Osteoporosis is more common in India. It predominantly affects postmenopausal women, and elderly of both sexes. The mal-nutrition, and smoking, consumption of liquor and tobacco may have an effect on bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to screen the rural as well as urban population for osteoporosis using a portable ultrasound heel bone densitometer, A total number of 497 Indian people were screened for osteoporosis using portable heel ultrasound bone densitometer. It includes 342 urban populations, and 155 rural populations. In all the participants, the heel bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. The peak value of estimated heel BMD (g cm
^-2
) measured in the rural young females was 0.515, whereas, in urban females, it was 0.462, It was higher in rural young females than in urban females, and was significant, The peak value of estimated heel bone mineral density, BMD (g cm
^-2
) measured in the rural young males was 0.522, whereas, in urban males, it was 0.528, and there was no significant difference between the two types male population, In rural females, the calculated percentage loss in estimated heel BMD (g cm
^-2
) between young adult age and moderate age was found to be 17.1%, whereas in urban females, it was 8.4%; The percentage loss in estimated heel BMD between young adult age and old age were found to be 33.6% and 21.6% in rural females and urban females respectively, In rural females, the calculated percentage loss in estimated heel BMD value was greater than in urban females, In rural males, the calculated percentage loss in estimated heel BMD (g cm
^-2
) between young adult age and moderate age was found to be 8.6%, whereas, in rural males, it was 1.5%, The percentage loss in estimated heel BMD between young adult age and old age was found to be 12.1% in rural males, When using QUS device specific threshold (-1.9 T-score), it was found that 10.3% and 14.3% of the rural Indian women and men respectively, aged above 50 years had osteoporosis, whereas in urban women and men, the percentage of osteoporotic were found to be 0% and 10.5% respectively, The prevalence for the disease was greater in rural population and it was more prominent in men.