A 68-year-old Caucasian woman comes to your office for advice regarding her risk factors for developing osteoporosis. She is 5 ft 1 in tall and weighs 105 lb. She stopped having periods at the age of 42 years. She is healthy and walks on a treadmill daily. She does not take any medications. She has never taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Her mother died at the age of 71 after she suffered a spontaneous hip fracture.
Which of the following will have the least effect on this patient’s risk for developing osteoporosis?
A. Her family historyOsteoporosis is defined as decreased bone mass and microarchitectural disruption which leads to an increased risk of fractures. Fractures may occur in the vertebra, distal forearm (Colles’ fracture), or femur head. Although all races experience osteoporosis, white and Asian women lose bone earlier and at a more rapid rate than black women. Thin women and those who smoke are at increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Other risk factors include advanced age, history of prior fracture, long-term steroid therapy, or excessive alcohol use. Physical activity increases the mineral content of bone in postmenopausal women.