Perception of risk factors and DXA T score among at‐risk females of osteoporosis

Aim. This paper reports a study to investigate the relationships among bone mineral density, demographics, knowledge of osteoporosis, beliefs concerning osteoporosis and preventive behaviours of at‐risk females with family histories of osteoporosis. Background. Strong evidence demonstrates that genetics is a significant determinant of peak bone mass, with a heritability of 50–90%. However, few studies have examined the bone mineral density of at‐risk females with family histories of osteoporosis, particularly in an Asian population. Design. Telephone survey. Methods. The study population (n = 2890) was recruited from a radiology department at a national university medical centre in northern Taiwan during 2005–2006. In total, 886 females completed a questionnaire via the telephone; the participation rate was 30·7%. Results. The bone mineral density of at‐risk females was close to osteopenia status (T score of −1 to −2·49). Most subjects were aware of osteoporosis‐related information; however, few clearly understood osteoporosis. Furthermore, subjects reported difficult implementing strategies to improve bone mineral density. Variation in bone mineral density was correlated with self‐rated health (r = 0·56, p