Prevalence of osteoporosis among cancer patients in Germany: prospective data from an oncological rehabilitation clinic

Abstract

In this prospective study, we measured bone mineral density (BMD) in 1,041 cancer patients undergoing an oncological rehabilitation program in an inpatient rehabilitation clinic. There was an osteoporosis prevalence of approximately 16%, independent of sex, which is considerably higher than in the community-dwelling population.

Introduction: There is evidence that cancer patients are at risk of an increased BMD-loss following the disease and its therapy. Nevertheless, there is only little data available about the prevalence of osteoporosis in German cancer patients. Therefore, we measured BMD in 1,041 oncological inpatients undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods: From February 2006 to September 2009, BMD was measured in oncological patients with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA; femur and spine). Statistical analysis for prevalence of osteoporosis was done in descriptive manner calculating means, standard deviation, frequencies, and 95% confidence intervals. To compare the prevalence of osteoporosis in different subgroups, χ (2) tests were done with p < 0.05. To create a risk profile, odds ratios were calculated using uni- and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: In 1,041 patients with a mean age of 57.1 years (11.0 years), DXA-measures were performed. Of them, 22% were male and 78% were female. The osteoporosis prevalence was about 16% (13.8, 18.2), independent of sex (p = 0.9722) or cancer type (p = 0.7174). As risk factors influencing the development of osteoporosis, age, weight, menopausal state, and hormone replacement therapy were identified in women and weight only in men.

Conclusions: Compared to the general population, the rate of osteoporosis is distinctly elevated in German cancer patients independent of sex or cancer type. Hence, a general recommendation for a DXA screening in these patients appears to be justified.