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Maintenance of Bone Density

Outcomes Over Five Years of Attendance at an Osteoporosis Center

^a Department of Biomechanics and Biomaterials, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City
^b The Osteoporosis Prevention Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City
^c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City

Margaret G. E. Peterson, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 E-mail: petersonm{at}hss.edu.

William B. Ershler, MD

Background. This is a longitudinal analysis of the data from women who visited the Osteoporosis Prevention Center for at least five years. The study is part of an ongoing evaluation of the results of the Center visits.

Methods. A random sample of 100 women who had attended the clinic for more than five years and were not referred for a definite medical diagnosis was pulled from the records. Descriptive statistics were compiled on this sample. Seventy-five women were postmenopausal and over 49 years of age. This subgroup was studied for change in bone mineral density (BMD) over the five years.

Results. The BMD change was 0.03 gm/cm² in the spine, -0.01 gm/cm² in the femoral-neck, and -0.008 gm/cm² at the radius over the five years.

Conclusion. Attendance at the Osteoporosis Prevention Center was associated with maintenance of bone density in the spine over a five-year period.