OSTEOPOROSIS - RISK FACTORS

Many factors contribute to your overall risk of developing osteoporosis.

• Advanced age

• Female gender

• Caucasian or Asian race

• Thin and small body frame

• Positive family history of osteoporosis

• Personal history of fractures as an adult

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Smoking

• Low dietary calcium

• Lack of exercise, in particular, weight-bearing exercise

• Malnutrition and poor general health

• Low estrogen states in women (eg. After menopause, removal or damage to ovaries)

• Low testosterone levels in men

• Chronic immobility

• Certain medical conditions eg. Hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis

• Certain medication eg. Heparin, phenytoin, corticosteroids

THE OSTEOPOROSIS SELF-TEST FOR ASIANS (OSTA) SCORE

In Asian women, the use of the OSTA Scoring system would help in the assessment of this risk.

Clinically, one can estimate the risk of osteoporosis by the OSTA scoring system.   This is calculated as follows:

Age (in years) – Weight (in kg) = OSTA Score

Interpreting results:

From the above, one observes that the older and lighter you are, the higher your risk. For example, if you are 40kg in weight, your OSTA score would be considered high once you are above 60 years old.

Based on your OSTA score and other risk factors, your doctor will advise you on whether you should proceed to do the DEXA scan to assess your Bone Mineral Density.

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