Bone Health Crisis: Analyzing Osteoporosis and Bone Loss in the Pakistani Populations

Objective:
This study evaluates bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis prevalence among individuals in Karachi, Pakistan, using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
Method:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, involving 350 participants aged 13–96 years. BMD was assessed at the lumbar spine (A/P-L/S) and hip regions using DEXA. T-scores were interpreted according to WHO criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.22.
Results:
The mean age was 50.59 ± 14.71 years. Of the total, 89.7% were female and 10.3% male. In the lumbar spine, 24.9% had osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5), 38% had osteopenia (-2.5 < T < -1.0), and 37.1% had normal BMD (T ≥ -1.0). At the hip, 5.7% had osteoporosis, 24% had osteopenia, and 70.3% had normal BMD. The highest prevalence of low BMD was observed in the 51–60-year age group. Notably, males showed a higher-than-expected rate of osteopenia and osteoporosis, particularly in the lumbar spine.
Conclusion:
A significant proportion of the studied population, including males, exhibits reduced BMD, indicating a growing public health concern. These findings underscore the need for early screening, targeted interventions, and nationwide surveillance of bone health in Pakistan.

Bone health, bone mineral density, densitometric measurements, osteoporosis, DEXA scan.