[Assessment of osteoporosis in the local population by means of a portable dual energy X-ray absorptiometry unit].

We assessed bone mineral density (BMD) in the local population by means of a portable dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) unit. BMD was measured by DXA in 197 women (62 premenopausal and 135 postmenopausal) in Shiunji town. Age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), menstrual history, obstetric history, habits, symptoms and hormonal cytology (eosinophilic index (EI), karyopyknotic index (KPI) and maturation value (MV)) were investigated. A negative correlation (r = -0.645, p < 0.01) was found between BMD and age. Low BMD (BMD < 0.8g/cm2) was found at a rate of 3.2% in premenopausal women and 51.1% in postmenopausal women. The low BMD group of postmenopausal women had significantly lower BMI and higher age at first delivery than the normal BMD group (BMD > or = 0.8g/cm2). There were no differences between the 2 groups in other factors. We found a positive correlation between BMD and hormonal cytology (KPI and MV). These findings suggest that the rate of osteopenia in postmenopausal women is high than expectation and it is difficult to predict bone loss by symptoms, history and habits. The portable DXA unit is useful for screening osteopenia in local populations.