Innova · 2026
Early menopause and the risk of osteoporotic fractures
By Letaeva Marina Vasilevna, Averkieva Yuliya Valerevna, Koroleva Marina Valerevna et al.
Early menopause is associated with accelerated decline in bone mineral density due to estrogen deficiency, promoting the development of osteoporosis and increasing fracture risk—the leading cause of disability and mortality in elderly women. Assessment of bone reserve and fracture risk prediction in these patients holds high clinical significance. The aim of the study to evaluate the impact of early menopause on the risk of osteoporotic fractures. Materials and methods. A total of 138 women aged ≥50 years (mean age 73,7 [58,4; 95,2]) were included: Group I—52 (37,7%) with early surgically induced menopause (before age 45), Group II—86 (62,3%) with natural menopause. Mean age was 70,7 and 76,6 years, respectively. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar Prodigy Primo, USA) at the femoral neck. Fracture risk was assessed using the FRAX tool (MOF FRAX and HIP FRAX). Results. A decrease in BMD was detected in both groups, mainly in the first 10 years after menopause. It was noted that in women with early menopause, bone loss was more pronounced: the average BMD was 0.7186 and 0.8922 g/cm². In the group of women with menopausal duration of 11-20 and> 20 years, the BMD differences are not statistically significant. When assessing the risk of FRAX fractures, it was shown that the MOF values of FRAX (27.01 and 26.17) and HIP FRAX (11.87 and 11.16) were comparable in both groups. Conclusion. Given the significant reduction in bone mineral density among women with early menopause, preventive measures should be implemented to avoid severe complications such as vertebral and peripheral osteoporotic fractures.