Osteoporosis Diagnosis and Fracture

Design: Data were extracted from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). This large-scale data set was collected by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Sample: The sample for this study included 2,336 women aged 50 years and older who resided in households interviewed for NHANES III.

Methods: Predictors for examination included age, race, heredity, body mass index, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, and dairy product use. Analyses were conducted using SAS procedures.

Findings: Correlates for screening and diagnosis of osteoporosis included age and race. Risk factors predicting hip fracture included age, race, low body mass index, and inactivity.

Implications for Nursing Practice: Recommendations emphasize screening of high-risk women, achieving and maintaining healthy body weights for underweight women, and obtaining moderate physical activity.