Osteoporosis Preventive Care in White and Black Women in Community Family Medicine Settings

Background: Osteoporosis has been studied predominantly in white postmenopausal women.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 400 women aged 45 years and older enrolled in a family medicine community-based research network. Participants responded to 42 items regarding osteoporosis screening and prevention during primary care visits. Odds ratios were calculated comparing black versus white women, adjusting for age, weight, fracture history, family history of osteoporosis, and practice site.

Results: Compared with black women, white women had 5.96 (95% CI 3.01, 11.79) times the adjusted odds of having a past bone density test, 2.97 (95% CI 1.57, 5.60) times the odds of discussing osteoporosis with their doctor, and 2.42 (95% CI 1.30, 4.50) times the odds of a physician recommendation to take calcium.

Conclusions: Disparities in osteoporosis preventive care were found between black and white women, after adjustment for other osteoporosis risk factors.