Risk Factors for Osteoporosis are Associated with Stress Fracture in Young Women

Several factors which affect bone density and predict risk of osteoporosis have been reportedly associated with a higher incidence of stress fracture in young active women e.g. amenorrhea, ethnic origin. This study surveyed the prevalence of ever having been diagnosed with a stress fracture in a large population of healthy premenopausal women and examined the association with risk factors for osteoporosis. A mail survey was delivered to 2312 active duty Army woman mean age 26.1 or - 5.8 SD yrs and questionnaires were returned by 70.5 1630 of this sample. Stress fracture had been previously diagnosed in 16.1 263 of the respondents. Current smoking, previous history of amenorrhea menses absent 6 months, and known family history of osteoporosis were associated with history of stress fracture, while black ethnic origin appears to have been a protective factor. Age was inversely associated with stress fracture, probably reflecting selective processes specific to this population. These data suggests hypotheses for stress fracture risk factors which bear further testing. Bone fractures.