Abstract

NEILA CALVO, S. et al. The reality of osteoporosis in patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine. Rev Osteoporos Metab Miner [online]. 2013, vol.5, n.4, pp.141-145. ISSN 2173-2345.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1889-836X2013000400004.

Purpose: a) to know the prevalence of previous osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in patients admitted to an Internal Medicine department from a third-level hospital; b) to determinate the proportion of patients discharged with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, and the percentage of those receiving treatment; c) to quantify the risk of fracture by applying the FRAX calculation tool; and d) to know the serum levels of 25OHD in these patients. Patients and methods: Retrospective study, based on the review of clinical charts of all the patients admitted to the Internal Medicine department of Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, during April 2012. The information was gathered by a standardized protocol, including demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory variables. Results: Three hundred patients were studied (mean age, 80 years). Thirty-four (11.3%) had a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis and 14 (4.8%) of them were, or had been, on treatment. A diagnosis of osteoporosis, in the hospital discharge report, was noted in 14 patients. No treatment was prescribed in one of them. According to the FRAX calculation tool, mean risk for major osteoporotic fracture was 10.5%, and mean risk for hip fracture was 5.4%. Mean serum 25OHD level was 16 ng/ml, and more than 80% of patients had values below 20 ng/ml. Conclusion: Osteoporosis is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease, in patients admitted to an Internal Medicine Department, whatever the reason. Moreover, we have observed a high prevalence of 25OHD deficiency among these patients. Hospitalization can represent an excellent opportunity for the internists and other clinicians, to pay attention to the presence of osteoporosis and its related complications.

Keywords : vertebral fracture; osteoporosis; diagnosis; chest-X-ray; 25OHD; Internal Medicine.

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