Purpose: Low bone mineral density (BMD) including low bone mass and osteoporosis is a bone state that carries the risk of fractures and the consequent burden. Since Iran has an aging population and is considered a high-risk country regarding fracture, the objective of this study was to report the low BMD attributable burden in Iran from 1990 to 2019 at national and subnational levels.
Materials and methods: In this study, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019 estimates of exposure value and attributable burden were used. For each risk-outcome pair, following the estimation of relative risk, exposure level, and the Theoretical Minimum Risk Exposure Level (TMREL), the Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs) and attributable burden were computed. The Summary Exposure Value (SEV) index was also computed.
Results: Although the age-standardized DALYs and deaths decreased (- 41.0 [95% uncertainty interval: - 45.7 to - 33.2] and - 43.3 [- 48.9 to - 32.5]), attributable all age numbers in Iran increased from 1990 to 2019 (64.3 [50.6 to 89.1] and 66.8 [49.7 to 102.0]). The male gender had a higher low BMD attributed burden in Iran at national and subnational levels except for Tehran. Among low BMD-associated outcomes, motor vehicle road injuries and falls accounted for most of the low BMD-attributed burden in Iran. The SEV for low BMD remained constant from 1990 to 2019 in the country and females had higher SEVs.
Conclusion: Low BMD and the associated outcomes has to gain attention in Iran's health system due to an aging population. Hence, timely interventions by health systems and the population at stake might assist in reducing the burden attributed to low BMD.
Keywords: Global Burden of Disease; Injury; Low bone mineral density; Osteopenia; Osteoporosis.
© 2022. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.