Comparison of Bone Mineral Density and Treatment Initiation Among Treatment-Naive Post-menopausal Women With and Without Distal Radius Fracture: A Case-Control Study From Southern Europe

Objectives The objective of this study is to compare bone mineral density (BMD), Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) scores, comorbidities, risk factors, and biochemical blood markers among postmenopausal women with distal radius fractures and those without such fractures. Materials and methods Sixty-three postmenopausal women with distal radius fractures were compared to 64 postmenopausal women with no history of fractures. Primary objectives included comparing BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine, as well as FRAX scores between the two groups. Secondary goals involved assessing comorbidities, risk factors, and biochemical blood markers (Ca+2, albumin, parathormone (PTH), and vitamin D (VITD)) between the two groups. Results BMD and T-scores for the hip and lumbar spine were compared between groups, revealing no statistically significant differences. However, FRAX scores (major and hip) differed significantly in the fracture group (p = 0.005), aligning with expectations that a previous fracture elevates the FRAX risk for future fractures. Biochemical markers were similar between the two groups, except for vitamin D. Among risk factors and comorbidities, only multi-drug regimens and epileptic seizures were significantly higher in the fracture group. Conclusion Our study found similar BMD between the two groups. Nonetheless, a lower FRAX in the fracture group necessitates increased consideration for osteoporosis treatment. Multiple-drug regimens and lower vitamin D levels were also linked to the fracture group.