Background, Osteoporosis is an important health problem with serious consequences. Aim, To assess risk factors of osteoporosis among both sexes over 40 years attending outpatient clinics at Cairo university hospital and develop health guidelines to prevent osteoporosis. Design, A descriptive correlational research design was utilized. Setting, Data were collected from the orthopedic outpatient clinic at El-Manial University Hospital. Sample, A convinent sample of all cases coming to the orthopedic outpatient clinic who fit the criteria were included in the study. Tool for data collection, One tool was developed by the researchers; Osteoprosis Structured Interviewing Questionnaire Sheet: consisted of 3 parts: Part I. Personal data: age, sex, marital status, residence, educational level, etc….. Part II. Medical and family history: it included the following; 1) family history of osteoporosis, health problems. 2) Disease duration, history of falls and fracures. 3) Treatment; medications (thyroid treatment, hormonal treatment, corticosteroid, antidepressant, antiepileptic, anticoagulant drugs and immune-suppresive). Part III. Risk factors of osteoporosis and life style: exercise, smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake, appetite loss, protein eating, sun exposure, body mass index. Results, it was found that, 72.4% of the study subjects were married, mean age of them was 59.11+8.904 years, 75% of them were females. Also, 44.7% can read and write, 60.7% of them were retired and 14.5% were housewives and 78% of the study subjects are from urban area. It was found that, 63.4% of study subjects with osteoporosis had family history of osteoporosis. Also, 81.5% of the study subjects are suffering from osteoporosis. The majority of osteoporotic study subjects were taking corticosteroid, anticoagulant drugs, antiepileptic drugs and hormonal therapy. The findings revealed that, 30.2% were obese, 10.3% of osteoporotic study subjects were practicing exercises. only 13.4% of those with osteoporosis exposed themselves regularly to sunlight and 94.8% of osteoprotic females had their menopause between the ages of 45-55 years. Conclusion, the study concluded that, the common risk factors identified were; family history, lack of excersies, irregular exposure to sun light, being a female. Also, osteoporosis health guidelines were needed for prevention of osteoporosis. Recommendations, the study recommended to dissiminate osteoporosis health guidelines in orthopedic outpatient clinics and further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of osteorosis health guidelines in the prevention of osteoporosis.
