This study concentrated on urine bone markers, N and C- telopeptide, and their concentrations evaluated in the urine of elderly participants and compared with that of the young of the same gender. Markers for bone resorption are proteins, and usually measured in urine, where they serve to assess bone turnover. A cross-sectional prospective study conducted at the orthopaedic and Family Medicine Departments of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, a public tertiary healthcare facility located in Choba community of Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers state, Nigeria, among elderly patients aged 60 years and above. Considering the age of the test population, all the females were post-menopausal and no statistical difference was observed in relation to the results for gender in the study. More females participated, while the control group had more males. And there is no statistically significant difference in mean bone resorption markers among the two age groups (p< 0.005). Creatinine values were used to normalize the urine N and C Telopeptide. while stemming calcium imbalance among the elderly individuals arise from severe chronic illness, malabsorption syndrome and poor socio-economic factor such as malnutrition.Urine values of NTX and CTX were generally increased in the elderly. Dual x-ray absorptiometry also corresponded with values of the urinary markers of bone resorption and may be useful for diagnosing BMD of normal, osteopaenia and osteoporosis. However, it is worthy to note that urine values are not completely reliable owing to possible interference, unlike serum, thus, correction with creatinine is required.The study has public health importance owing to the fact that bone pain is a common complaint among older individuals. It also revealed that at the elderly age, most people experience osteopaenia, with some already having osteoporosis, thus, it is recommended that elderly patients that are likely to have resorption should be enlightened on markers of bone resorption, and can serve diagnostic purposes.
Keywords: Bone markers; urine creatinine; bone densitometry; metabolism
