Objective. In this retrospective study, we aimed to analyse bone profile in menopausal women who suffered a low-trauma fall and were found to have an osteoporotic fracture. Methods. This real-life setting included individuals with a fall within the last year before DXA scan [providing bone mineral density (BMD)/T-score], and excluded traumatic falls, prior anti-osteoporosis therapy, diagnosis of osteoporosis, cancers, and bone metabolic diseases. Results. 5-year age-group analysis was statistically significantly different (N=48, p=0.017): in the 70-74 year interval, 75% were in group F (fracture +ve), in the 50-54 year interval, 83.33% were in group nonF (fracture-free). Mineral metabolism assays and bone turnover markers pinpointed a similar profile, except for DXA: femoral neck T-score was lower in group F versus nonF (-1.75±0.72 versus -1.17±0.91, p=0.029). Receiver operating characteristic curve of femoral neck T-score for predicting a fracture showed an area under the curve of 0.691 (p=0.031). Conclusion. Menopausal women with a 1-year fall history with fractures were older, had a longer menopause duration, and had lower femoral neck BMD than fracture-free women. Type 2 diabetes and hypertension had similar prevalence, as did the vitamin D profile and bone turnover markers. Individuals with vertebral fractures (most common types) showed a lower lumbar BMD versus those with non-vertebral fractures.
Obesity correlates with a higher risk of fractures in some sites as vertebras, upper arm, and legs. This is a narrative mini-review focused on several key points that link obesity with osteoporosis. Waist circumference may a better predictor of fractures than body mass index (BMI) in obese females. Even obese menopausal women have an extra source of estrogens in fat tissue this actually is not enough to offer a complete protection against osteoporotic fractures. Low levels of testosterone in males induce a higher risk of fall dependent or independent of sarcopenia (which is more evident in elderly). High BMI is correlated with vitamin D deficiency. Obesity is a contributor to muscle damage and decline due to fat accumulation and inefficient fuel utilisation by the muscle, namely sarcopenic obesity, regardless the age. Associated type 2 diabetes mellitus involves bone damage and fracture risk due to glycated proteins of the matrix, the changes of adipokines, increased cortical porosity, high risk of fall because of blood pressure and glycaemia anomalies, visual disturbances, renal and peripheral nerves diabetes-associated conditions etc. The fracture risk is also augmented via fat derived cytokines and chronic inflammation. Even it seems logical that the weight correction though bariatric surgery reduces the fracture risk in obesity, actually data from longitudinal studies pointed that, despite the procedure is life saving, it does not actually protect against osteoporosis which is regarded as a potential long-term complication. A high fracture burden in obesity should increase the level of awareness for practitioners of different medical areas due to multiple levels of complications and to the epidemiological impact of obesity.
