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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Suzanne C Smeltzer, RN, EdD, FAAN, Vanessa Zimmerman, RN, MSN, and Theresa Capriotti, RN, MSN, DO. College of Nursing, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, 610-519-6828, suzanne.smeltzer@villanova.edu
Women with disabilities are at risk for osteoporosis because of lack of weight bearing exercise, use of medications to treat their disorders, and a low calcium intake. Despite these risks, few women with disabilities undergo bone mineral density (BMD) testing. This study examined osteoporosis risks and BMD screening results in 429 women with a variety of disabilities. Women with disabilities underwent peripheral BMD screening at the calcaneus. Subjects completed a questionnaire about risks for osteoporosis (ethnicity, menopausal status, history of fractures, calcium intake, level of exercise, etc.) and about strategies used to prevent osteoporosis. Subjects were asked if they had previous BMD testing and if testing had ever been recommended.
The predominantly Caucasian sample had a mean age of 49.5 years. Disabilities included MS, spina bifida, post polio syndrome, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and others. BMD test results, reported as t scores, ranged from 3.5 to - 5.0. When t scores were categorized using WHO standards, 43.6% of the women were categorized as having normal BMD, 28.4% had osteopenia, and 28% had osteoporosis. Despite a mean of 4.6 risk factors for osteoporosis, only 32% of them reported taking calcium supplements, 16% reported use of hormone replacement therapy, and 7.2 % reported use of other medications to prevent or reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Only 20% reported previous BMD testing and 29% reported receiving a recommendation for testing from a health care provider. These findings suggest the need for greater attention to detection, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis in women with neurological and other disabilities.
Funded by a grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Disability, Women's Health
Related Web page: www.nursing.villanova.edu/WomenWithDisabilities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.