Level of physical activity and sun exposure in patients with fragility fractures

Introduction. Consistent data from randomized controlled trials show that exercise training programs can prevent or reverse almost 1% of bone loss per year in both pre- and post-menopausal women [1,2,3]. The aim of our study was to assess the amount of physical activity in patients with a history of fragility fractures. Materials and methods. We conducted a Regional Survey on behalf of GISMOA (Gruppo Interdisciplinare per lo Studio delle Malattie Osteo-Articolari) involving 11 physicians experienced in osteoporosis working in Campania Region. We asked each physician to collect data on osteoporotic patients over 50 years of age. For each patient they had to fill a form including: questions about medical history, evaluation of time of physical activity and sun exposure before the fracture, and number of fracture. Results. Of the 845 forms we excluded 159 patients because they did not meet the inclusion criteria or data were incomplete, therefore the analysis was carried out on 687 patients, 665 (96.93%) were females. 364 (53.06%) had already had a fragility fracture. 164 patients had a history of multiple fractures, of these 14 (8.53%) reported no sun exposure; 70 (42.68%) reported ≤ 30 min a day and 74 (45.12%) reported ≥ 30 min of sun exposure, 135 (82.31%) reported they did not do any physical activity; 9 (2.47%) referred to do physical activity one time a week; 4 (1.09%) 2 times a week and 10 (2.74%) more than 3 times a week. Of the 190 patients with a history of vertebral fractures, 16 (8.42%) used not to be exposed to the sun; 76 (40%) ≤ 30 min a day and 93 (48.94%) ≥ 30 min a day; 147 patients (77.36%) reported they did not do any physical activity; 21 (11.05%) one time a week; 5 (2.63%) two times a week and 12 (6.31%) more than 3 times a week. Of the 15 patients with a hip fracture 5 reported not to be exposed to the sun; 5 for ≤ 30 min and 5 ≥ 30 min. Only one of them used to practice sport 2 times a week. Conclusions. These findings suggest that lack of physical activity might play a key role in pathogenesis of fragility fractures; while data related to sun exposure are discordant and might require further investigation. Bibliography 1. Wolff I., at al, The effect of exercise training programs on bone mass: a meta-analysis of published controlled trials in pre- and post-menopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 1999. 9(1): p.1-12. 2. Wallace, B.A. and R.G. Cumming, Systematic Review of randomized trials of the effect of exercise on bone mass in pre- and post-menopausal women. Calcif Tissue Int, 2000. 67(1): p.10-8. 3. Bonaiuti, D. et al., Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2002(3): p. CD000333.