Osteoporosis screening practice at the National Guard affiliated primary care centers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Osteoporosis Research
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Osteoporosis poses a significant public health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality.
• Effective screening practices are crucial for early detection and management of osteoporosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utilization and completion rates of osteoporosis screening tests in average-risk individuals within primary healthcare centers.
• To identify factors influencing the ordering and completion of bone mineral density (BMD) tests.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of data from 5,965 women between 2016 and 2023.
• Statistical analysis including frequencies, means, standard deviations, chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression.
• Assessment of factors associated with BMD test ordering and completion.

Main Results:

• Only 1,017 (25%) of 4,075 BMD orders were completed by 894 women (15% of the total cohort).
• Prevalence estimates indicated osteoporosis in 26.9% and osteopenia in 53.1% of completed tests.
• Patient age, facility, visit frequency, ordering staff, and year of order were factors associated with test utilization and completion.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists in osteoporosis screening practices within primary care settings.
• Understanding physician and patient factors is key to improving BMD test utilization and completion rates.
• Addressing screening gaps is vital for mitigating the impact of osteoporosis.