Prevalence of Osteoporosis of the Priests
Montchai Chumnumnawin MD*, Sirichai Sawetchaikul MD*, Viriya Sresuriyasawad MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopedics, Priest Hospital, Bangkok
Objective : To evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis in priests
Material and Method: A cross sectional study was done in priests to evaluate the mineral bone density (BMD)
measured by ultrasonography scanning at calcaneum in the out patients clinic of Priest Hospital and in the
temples of central Bangkok. Questionnaire about related health behavior and past history of fracture including
co-morbidity were reviewed.
Result: The BMD showed that 49.32% of the examined priests had osteopenia, 45.68% had normal BMD, and
only 5.01% had osteoporosis.
Conclusion : Osteopenia and osteoporosis in the priests were correlated with aging, longer duration of being
priests, domicile in rural areas, and inadequate duration of standing and walking activity per day.
Keywords : Osteoporosis, Osteopenia, BMD( Bone mineral density), Ultrasonography, Calcaneum, Priest.
