The continuous increase in numbers of people with osteoporosis, and individuals with low bone mass in the community, brings severe challenges to the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in the community.

To investigate the basic conditions related to the prevention and control of osteoporosis in communities, including the basic process and cost of enrolling the target population, and the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis in the target population, so as to provide evidence for supporting a general practice team to develop precise osteoporosis prevention and control measures.

This study selected 322 cases (including outpatient patients and older physical examinees) from Waitan Community Health Service Center, Shanghai from May to August 2021. General information, bone density test results and risk factors of osteoporosis were collected by a questionnaire.

The cost of enrolling the target population in the community was 57.344 yuan per person. Among the 322 cases, 27 (8.4%) had normal bone mass, 157 (48.8%) had low bone mass, and 138 (42.8%) had osteoporosis. The prevalence of bone density abnormalities (low bone mass and osteoporosis) reached 91.6%. There were statistically significant differences in gender ratio and BMI among normal bone mass, low bone mass and osteoporosis groups (P<0.05). The average bone mineral density (BMD) values of normal bone mass, low bone mass and osteoporosis groups were (-0.72±0.27) AU/mm³, (-1.88±0.38) AU/mm³, and (-3.17±0.53) AU/mm³, respectively. In terms of exercise habits, the prevalence of individuals doing little exercise in normal bone mass, low bone mass and osteoporosis groups was 37.0% (10/27), 49.7% (78/157) and 64.5% (89/138), respectively. In terms of exercise intensity, the prevalence of individuals exercising at moderate-intensity in normal bone mass, low bone mass and osteoporosis groups was 74.1% (20/27), 79.6% (125/157) and 80.4% (111/138), respectively. Three groups had no significant differences in the other osteoporosis risk factors, such as surgical treatment history, smoking history, allergy history and disease history. There was also no significant intergroup difference in dietary habits. Of all cases, 48.8% (157/322) never drank beer, liquor and red wine, 32.0% (103/322) drank coffee 4-6 times per week, and 31.4% (101/322) ate pickled vegetables, smoked foods, or sauces 4-6 times per week.

The community is a favorable setting for conducting prevention, treatment and clinically research programs regarding osteoporosis owing to short participant enrollment period and low cost. As the exercise and eating habits of the elderly in the community are unhealthy, the general practice team should accurately guide them to rapidly improve their dietary structure and develop a healthy exercise habit according to their own status, by which the onset and progression of osteoporosis can be proactively controlled.