Trends in osteoporosis prevalence at a tertiary care referral center hospital in Northeastern Thailand: a 20-year analysis (2003–2022)

The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence trends of osteoporosis from 2003 to 2022 using data from the largest tertiary care referral center hospital in Northeastern Thailand. We reviewed 36,306 bone mineral density measurements of community-dwelling individuals aged > 45 years from the medical record database of Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand, between 2003 and 2022. We observed a significant increase in the crude prevalence of osteoporosis from 2003 to 2022. Meanwhile, the age-standardized prevalence increased more gradually.

To investigate the prevalence trends of osteoporosis from 2003 to 2022 using data from the largest tertiary care referral center in Northeastern Thailand.

Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of community-dwelling individuals aged > 45 years were reviewed from the medical record database of Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand, between 2003 and 2022. Osteoporosis was defined by a T-score of ≤  − 2.5. For each year, crude and age-standardized prevalence rates for osteoporosis stratified by site of measurement were calculated. Trend analysis was performed using the joinpoint regression method.

A total of 36,306 BMD measurements were identified between 2003 and 2022. The crude prevalence of femoral neck (FN) osteoporosis increased from 2.4% to 9.2% in men and from 2.5% to 11.2% in women, while the age-standardized prevalence increased less, from 2.6% to 8.3% in men, and slightly decreased from 8.7% to 7.6% in women. Trend analysis revealed increased crude and age-standardized prevalence rates of FN osteoporosis in men, with an annual percent change (APC) of 4.0 (95%CI: − 4.1 to 14.7) and 2.3 (95%CI: − 4.9 to 10.0), respectively. In women, the crude prevalence increased significantly from 2003 to 2011 (APC: 20.8, 95%CI: 5.8–249.3) and plateaued from 2011 to 2022 (APC: 0.8, 95%CI: − 30.3 to 5.9). The age-standardized prevalence was relatively unchanged (APC: 0.1, 95%CI: − 4.2 to 5.4).

We observed a significant increase in the crude prevalence of osteoporosis from 2003 to 2022 among individuals receiving BMD measurements in a tertiary care referral center in Northeastern Thailand. Meanwhile, the age-standardized prevalence increased more gradually.