To compare and analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of osteoporosis in southern and northern China.

Use Wanfang database and China HowNet database to retrieve the literatures on Osteoporosis Epidemiology reported from January 2013 to December 2018, and select the regional representative literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Beijing, Gansu, Henan, Shanxi and Shandong provinces represented the northern regions, while Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou and Jiangxi provinces represented the southern regions. Then the specific data in each literature were extracted manually, including the sample size, gender, age, number of osteoporosis patients, etc. Chi-square test was used to compare the rates.

A total of 10 articles were selected, from which 38 941 cases were collected, including 8 334 cases (21.4%) of osteoporosis. The prevalence of osteoporosis in the two regions showed the same epidemiological characteristics: the prevalence of osteoporosis increased gradually with increasing age in both males and females; The prevalence of osteoporosis in women was significantly higher than that in men except 20 to 29 years old (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The prevalence of osteoporosis in elderly men and women is significantly higher than that in non-elderly people (in northern China: χ²=960.180, 1 315.400, P < 0.01; in southern China: χ²=773.290、1 482.720, P < 0.01). Compared with southern China, the prevalence of osteoporosis was significantly higher in both males and females in northern China (non-elderly: χ²=39.740, 44.660, P < 0.01; the elderly: χ²=34.540, 16.140, P < 0.01). Compared with the southern region, the prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in men aged 40~49, 50~59 and 60~69 in the northern region (men: χ²=29.300, 8.000, 3.900, P < 0.05 or 0.01; women: χ²=15.580, 50.590, 5.860, P<0.05 or 0.01), but lower in men aged 70~79, 80~89 (men: χ²=21.570, 90.240, P < 0.01; women: χ²=4.430, 97.200, P < 0.05 or 0.01).

The overall incidence rate in the southern region is higher than that in the north. The proportion of patients in the 70~80 age group is the highest in both regions, and the female patients in all ages are more than men. The prevalence of osteoporosis increased with the increase of age in the two regions, and the prevalence of osteoporosis in 50 years of age in these two regions is significantly higher than before, so clinical intervention should be carried out during this period to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.