Causes of Osteoporosis in Pediatric Age Group Patients, Following at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 12 Years’ Experience

Background: Osteoporosis in children has various underlying causes related to hereditary or secondary to different diseases like: hematological diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, renal diseases, endocrine diseases, druginduced and immobilization. Objective: To investigate the causes of osteoporosis in pediatrics age group presented to pediatric clinic in King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Methods: One hundred thirty one children and adolescents with osteoporosis, visiting pediatric clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 2003 to 2015. Seventy five patients had primary osteoporosis which represents 57.3% of the studied sample of the population. Secondary osteoporosis was found in Fifty six patients which represents 42.7% of the sample of the population. Various underlying causes of primary and secondary of osteoporosis were evaluated by reviewing medical records file. Results: The mean age group is 11.43 years. Primary osteoporosis specifically osteogenesis imperfecta accounts for 57.3% of the cases. Among the secondary cases, hematological diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, endocrine diseases, Renal disease, immobilization, chronic use of steroid, were the most common accounting for 9.2%, 9.2%, 6.9%, 6.1%, 6.1%, 5.4% of the cases respectively. Conclusion: Osteogenesis imperfecta is the most common cause of children osteoporosis at KAUH, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While secondary osteoporosis is still to be considered and screened for.