Association of bone mineral density and body mass index in a cohort of Pakistanis: Relation to gender,menopause and ethnicity

Aim of the work

To assess association of body mass index (BMI) with bone mineral density (BMD) in a sample of Pakistanis and explore their relation with age, gender, menopausal status and ethnicity.

Patients and methods

A cross-sectional study at a tertiary care rehabilitation medicine center included apparently healthy individuals referred for an assessment of BMD through dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Subjects with any associated disorder, history of malignancy, intake of steroids, or under osteoporosis treatment were excluded. Patients were sub-grouped according to the age (?50 and >50 years) and menopausal status. The ethnicity was based on the provinces the patients came from.

Results

Out of 600 people, 253 (42.2%) were males with a mean age of 65 ± 10 years (range: 28–100 years) and 347 (57.8%) were females (56 ± 10 years; range: 18–92 years). The majority of males had normal BMI and osteopenia while majority of females were overweight and had osteopenia. Most individuals among sub-groups based on age and menopausal status had their BMI in the overweight range. The mainstream of the subjects ?50 years and premenopausal women had a normal BMD and those >50 years had osteopenia. The majority of postmenopausal women had osteoporosis. The ethnicity (based on provinces) did not affect BMI or BMD. In both genders, the underweight individuals were more likely to develop osteoporosis than individuals who were overweight or had normal BMI.

Conclusions

Majority of Pakistani women were overweight while men had a normal BMI. Younger age and premenopausal status was directly associated with a normal BMD. Both genders were significantly prone to have a low BMD if they had a lower BMI.