椎体骨折评估在绝经后女性骨质疏松诊断中的应用价值

目的研究利用双能X线骨密度仪扫描的脊柱影像进行椎体骨折评估在绝经后女性骨质疏松诊断中的应用价值。方法回顾499名年龄≥50岁的绝经后女性行骨密度检测同时行椎体侧位扫描,分析骨密度及椎体骨折评估(vertebral fracture assessment,VFA)的检测结果,收集研究对象的一般资料。结果对499名绝经后女性进行VFA检测结果分析:(1)椎体骨折诊断率提高了41.1%,骨质疏松诊断率提高了6.3%,严重骨质疏松诊断率提高了29.1%(P0.05);(2)当骨密度达到骨质疏松阈值时,椎体骨折率明显升高,较骨密度未达到骨质疏松阈值的椎体骨折发生率提高了29.2%(P0.05);(3)年龄增加、绝经年限延长的女性椎体骨折、骨质疏松、严重骨质疏松的患病率显著增加,骨量显著减少(P0.05);此外,体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)降低的绝经后女性骨量显著减少,骨质疏松的患病率显著增加(P0.05)。结论骨密度检测联合椎体骨折评估可以显著提高椎体骨折、骨质疏松、严重骨质疏松的诊断率;骨密度越低,年龄越大,绝经年限越长,椎体骨折的风险就越高;随年龄增长、绝经年限增加、BMI降低,骨密度减少,骨质疏松患病率增加。     

DXA影像评估绝经后女性椎体骨折

目的：做骨密度检测时,应用椎体骨折评估软件发现椎体骨折,提高椎体骨折诊断率。方法连续对217例≥50岁绝经后女性做股骨近端骨密度检测时,行胸腰椎侧位扫描,应用椎体骨折评估软件发现椎体骨折。根据骨密度T值分为T＞－2．5组和T≤－2．5组,年龄分为50～59岁组、60～69岁组和≥70岁组,绝经年限分为0～9年组、10～19年组和≥20年组,分析骨密度、年龄和绝经年限对椎体骨折率的影响,为了了解VFA对椎体骨折的评估的一致性,由同一位研究人员间隔2个月后再次对影像进行评估,采用Kappp统计方法行重复性检验。结果骨密度T＞－2．5患者椎体骨折率为21．6％,T≤－2．5患者椎体骨折率34．8％;各年龄组椎体骨折率：50－59岁为12．5％,60－69岁为25．6％,≥70岁为44．8％;绝经年限长的女性椎体骨折率显著升高。重复性检验提示一致性强度极强。结论对绝经后女性做骨密度检测时,同时进行椎体骨折评估有利于提高椎体骨折和骨质疏松诊断率。     

绝经后女性躯干肌指数与骨质疏松性椎体骨折的相关性

目的 探索绝经后女性躯干肌指数与骨质疏松性椎体骨折（osteoporotic vertebral fracture,OVF）的相关性,为骨质疏松性骨折的防治提供新的思路。方法 共纳入424名绝经后女性,其中OVF 212例,骨质疏松症（无OVF）212例,评估其临床因素,测量骨密度、四肢及躯干肌量。采用多元Logistic回归分析躯干肌指数与OVF之间的相关性。结果 与无OVF相比,OVF女性的躯干肌量及躯干肌指数较低（15.99±2.04 vs. 16.72±2.22;6.76±0.72 vs. 7.09±0.85）。调整骨质疏松症的传统危险因素后,躯干肌指数与腰椎骨密度呈正相关（r=0.186,P＜0.001）,躯干肌指数是OVF的保护因素（P=0.037,OR=0.684,95% CI：0.478～0.978）,基于躯干肌指数,OVF的患病率在4个四分位中呈显著下降趋势。结论 在昆山地区绝经后妇女中,躯干肌指数与腰椎骨密度及OVF密切相关。保持较高的躯干肌指数可能有利于减少OVF的发生。躯干肌指数与腰椎骨密度及OVF的相关性暗示了肌肉与骨骼的内在关联。     

Prevalence and risk factors of radiographic vertebral fracture in postmenopausal Vietnamese women

BackgroundVertebral fracture is associated with an increased risk of atraumatic fracture and mortality. The prevalence of vertebral fractures among postmenopausal Caucasian women has been reported to range between 15% and 35%. Because there is no estimate of the magnitude of the problem in Vietnam, we undertook this study to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of vertebral fracture in Vietnam.MethodsRadiographs were taken from 209 postmenopausal women aged between 50 and 85 years (average 62) who were randomly sampled from various districts in Ho Chi Minh City. The presence of vertebral fracture was assessed by the Genant's semi-quantitative method with two independent readers. Bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and whole body was measured by DXA (Hologic QDR4500). Anthropometric and clinical data were obtained by a standardized questionnaire.ResultsAmong the 209 women, 48 were found to have at least one radiographic vertebral fracture, which yielded a prevalence of 23% (95%CI: 18–29%). Although fracture occurred in all vertebrae, most (83%) occurred at the L1–L5. Most fractures occurred at one vertebra, and only 12% occurred at multiple vertebrae. The prevalence increased with age such that it reached 39% among those aged 70+ years. There was no significant association between vertebral fracture and back pain, fall history, and dietary calcium intake. In simple log-binomial regression analysis, higher risk of vertebral fracture was associated with advancing age (prevalence ratio [PR] per 10 years: 1.40; 1.16–2.05) and lower lumbar spine BMD (PR per SD: 1.51; 1.18–1.92). In multivariable analysis, the two factors remained independently associated with fracture risk, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve being 0.66.ConclusionsThese data suggest that approximately one out of 4 postmenopausal women in Vietnam have a radiographic vertebral fracture, and this prevalence is as common as in Caucasian populations. The number of women needed to screen to identify one vertebral fracture is about 4 to 5, which seems to be cost-effective.     

Preliminary study on relationship between vertebral fracture and aortic calcification in postmenopausal women

The prevalence of aortic calcification and osteoporosis increases with age. Several studies have postulated a direct relationship between the two disorders, suggesting that aortic calcification results from a redistribution of skeletal calcium in osteoporosis. We have undertaken a case-controlled study to reevaluate the possible relationship between the two age-related processes. Lateral spine radiographs of 122 postmenopausal Turkish women were analyzed to determine the presence or absence of vertebral fracture (n ₁=44 andn ₂=78, respectively). Abdominal aortic calcification was quantified in both groups using a subjective grading system (from no calcification to dense calcification adjacent to three vertebrae) and a semiquantitative method. Using the subjective method, the prevalence of aortic calcification increased from 41% in subjects aged 50–65 years to 78% in those over 75 years of age (И²=10.8;P<.005). The prevalence of aortic calcification was similar in women with and without vertebral fracture (60.0%vs 57.7%;P=.63). Using the semiquantitative method, there was no significant difference in the severity of abdominal aortic calcification between subjects with and without vertebral fractures (P=.74). Using logistic regression, the direction of the odds ratio suggested a greater risk of vertebral fracture in the presence of moderate or severe aortic calcification (1.3; 95% CI 0.5–3.9) and multiple loss of intervertebral disk spaces (2.0; 95% CI 0.6–7.4), but the number of subjects was small and the confidence intervals wide. These results do not support the hypothesis of a direct relationship between calcification and vertebral osteoporosis as a result of calcium redistribution in postmenopausal women. It is likely that factors other than vertebral deformity are of importance in the development of aortic calcification in the elderly.     

Influence of baseline deformity definition on subsequent vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women

Introduction Approaches for recognizing vertebral fractures remain controversial. Methods An age-stratified population sample of 512 postmenopausal women was followed with serial radiographs for up to 12 years (4455 person-years). Results 112 women experienced a new vertebral fracture (20% reduction in any vertebral height from baseline) within this study period, for an annual age-adjusted (to US white women ≥50 years of age in 2000) incidence of 23 per 1000. Depending on the morphometric definition used, the prevalence of vertebral deformities at baseline ranged from 3 to 90%. A recent method to standardize vertebral heights produced the best agreement with a qualitative clinical reading of the films [kappa (κ), 0.53]. Almost all of the different baseline definitions predicted future vertebral fractures, but most of the predictive power was attributable to the severe (e.g., 4 SD) deformities included within more generous (e.g., 3 SD) classifications. Whereas the generous definitions were more sensitive, and the restrictive ones more specific, their overall abilities to predict a new vertebral fracture were roughly comparable as evaluated by the c-index (analogous to the area under an ROC curve). Conclusion This result suggests that the choice of a morphometry definition depends on the particular application and, in particular, on whether it is more important to maximize sensitivity or specificity.     

A systematic review of diagnostic accuracy of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) in postmenopausal women and elderly men

Summary

This systematic review was performed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) with that of spinal radiography for identification of vertebral fractures (VFs). VFA appeared to have moderate sensitivity and high specificity for detecting VFs when compared with spinal radiography.

Introduction

VFs are recognized as the hallmark of osteoporosis, and a previous VF increases the risk of a future fracture. Therefore, the timely detection of VFs is important for prevention of further fractures. This systematic review examined the diagnostic accuracy of VFA using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to identify VFs.

Methods

We searched for potentially relevant studies using electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, Cochrane library, and four Korean databases, from their inception to May 2013. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of VFA with that of spinal radiography for detection of VFs by analyzing the sensitivity and specificity using a 2?×?2 contingency table. Subgroup analyses were also performed on studies with a low risk of bias and applicability.

Results

Twelve studies were analyzed for the diagnostic accuracy of VFA. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.70–0.93 and 0.95–1.00, respectively, analyzed on a per-vertebra basis, and 0.65–1.00 and 0.74–1.00 on a per-patient basis. The sensitivity and specificity of five studies in subgroups with a low risk of bias in the intervention test were 0.70–0.84 and 0.96–0.99, respectively. In studies with a low risk of bias in the patient selection, those based on a per-vertebra basis in three studies were 0.70–0.93 and 0.96–1.00, respectively.

Conclusions

VFA had moderate sensitivity and high specificity for detecting VF when compared with spinal radiography. However, the present findings are insufficient to assess whether spinal radiography should be replaced by VFA.

     

绝经后女性腰椎T值评分与椎体骨折的关系

目的探讨绝经后女性腰椎骨密度的T值评分与发生椎体骨折的关系。方法选择原发性骨质疏松症女性患者共74例,其中发生椎体骨折患者37例,无椎体骨折患者37例,所有受检者均行正侧位胸腰椎X线摄片证实。两组女性的出生年月、身高、体重、绝经年限等无显著性差异。用双能X线吸收仪(DXA)分别检测正位腰椎(L1-L4)及一侧股骨近段股骨颈的骨密度(BMD)值及T值,统计腰椎部位的T值评分(T-Score),以腰椎T值评分达≤-2.5可入选,并对两组腰椎的T值评分进行统计分析。结果骨折组腰椎T值评分明显低于非骨折组腰椎T值评分(P0.05)。结论绝经后女性发生椎体压缩性骨折与腰椎骨密度的T值评分降低相关。     

Prevalence of vertebral fractures and minor vertebral deformities evaluated by DXA-assisted vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) in a population-based study of postmenopausal women: the FRODOS study

Summary

Population-based studies performed with vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) morphometric technology are lacking in postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this study, we show a lower than expected prevalence of vertebral fractures, a high prevalence of minor vertebral deformities, and a clear association with clinical and densitometric parameters indicating the usefulness of this approach.

Introduction

Adequate epidemiological data on the prevalence of vertebral fractures (VF) is essential in studies of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Routine DXA-assisted VFA may be useful to determine the presence of VF. However, population-based studies performed with this technology are lacking. We aimed to assess the prevalence of VF and minor deformities in 2,968 postmenopausal women aged 59–70 years from a population-based cohort.

Methods

VFA and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were conducted, and McCloskey criteria (vertebral heights under 3 SD from reference values) confirmed with the Genant method were used to define VF. Additionally, minor vertebral deformities (vertebral heights between ?2 and ?2.99 SD) were evaluated.

Results

The prevalence of VF was 4.3 %, and 17 % of the participants had minor vertebral deformities. Low BMD was frequently observed in women with VF, with 48 %, and 42 % of participants showing osteoporosis and osteopenia. Minor vertebral deformities were observed in nearly 40 % of women with VF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, history of previous fracture, osteoporotic BMD, receiving anti-osteoporotic treatment, and current use of glucocorticoids were significantly associated with VF.

Conclusions

Although the VFA approach showed a lower than expected prevalence of VF in our cohort, its association with clinical and densitometric parameters may be useful to identify women at risk for developing fragility fractures and may therefore justify its use in longitudinal studies. The high prevalence of minor vertebral deformities detected in patients with VF indicates the need to evaluate this type of deformity as a risk factor for further skeletal fractures.     

Reduction in vertebral fracture risk in teriparatide-treated postmenopausal women as assessed by spinal deformity index

Teriparatide is the first bone-building drug available for the treatment of osteoporosis. We investigated the efficacy of this compound as assessed by spinal deformity index (SDI) using data from the Fracture Prevention Trial (FPT). The FPT was a randomized, double blind trial of placebo versus teriparatide 20 microg (TPTD20) versus teriparatide 40 microg (TPTD40) administered by daily self-injection. Patients included in the current analyses were those patients from the placebo (n = 398) and TPTD20 (the approved dose, n = 403) groups with baseline and follow-up radiographs and at least one vertebral fracture at baseline. For each vertebra, a visual semiquantitative grade of 0, 1, 2, or 3 was assigned for no fracture or mild, moderate, or severe fracture, respectively; the SDI was calculated by summing the fracture grades of all T4 to L4 vertebrae. The mean SDI increased in the placebo and TPTD20 groups by 0.485 and 0.134, respectively (P < 0.001). The proportions of patients with SDI increases >1, >2, and >3 were reduced by 85%, 80%, and 80%, respectively. In the placebo group, increasing baseline SDI was correlated with the mean increase in SDI during the trial (r = 0.080, P = 0.01), consistent with the progressive natural history of osteoporosis. However, in the TPTD20 group, increasing baseline SDI was not correlated with the mean increase in SDI during the trial (P = 0.297) indicating that teriparatide mitigated or eliminated the increased risk associated with increasing fracture burden. Increases in SDI during the trial were associated with increasing proportions of patients with new or worsening back pain and greater mean height loss (P < 0.0001), demonstrating an association with important clinical consequences. The results indicate that teriparatide greatly reduced the increase in fracture burden in the FPT and mitigated or eliminated the risk for future fractures imparted by increasing baseline fracture burden.     

绝经后妇女骨质疏松性椎体骨折与腰椎骨密度的关系

目的探讨绝经后妇女骨质疏松性椎体骨折与腰椎骨密度的关系。方法选择骨质疏松性椎体骨折的绝经后妇女23例为骨折组,无椎体骨折的25例绝经后骨质疏松妇女为对照组。两组的年龄、绝经年限、身高、体重、体重指数差异无显著性,均行胸腰椎正侧位X线摄片。用双能X线吸收仪（DXA）测量的腰椎（L2-4）前后位骨密度（BMD）、骨矿含量（BMC）和T值。结果骨折组BMD、BMC和T值均低于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论腰椎BMD降低与绝经后妇女的骨质疏松性椎体骨折相关。绝经后骨质疏松妇女应重视BMD变化,预防椎体骨折的发生。     

Effects of long-term strontium ranelate treatment on vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Summary

Vertebral fractures are a major adverse consequence of osteoporosis. In a large placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, strontium ranelate reduced vertebral fracture risk by 33% over 4 years, confirming the role of strontium ranelate as an effective long-term treatment in osteoporosis.

Introduction

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and loss of quality-of-life (QoL). Strontium ranelate (2 g/day) was shown to prevent bone loss, increase bone strength, and reduce vertebral and peripheral fractures. The preplanned aim of this study was to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of strontium ranelate.

Methods

A total of 1,649 postmenopausal osteoporotic women were randomized to strontium ranelate or placebo for 4 years, followed by a 1-year treatment-switch period for half of the patients. Primary efficacy criterion was incidence of patients with new vertebral fractures over 4 years. Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) and QoL were also evaluated.

Results

Over 4 years, risk of vertebral fracture was reduced by 33% with strontium ranelate (risk reduction?=?0.67, p?<?0.001). Among patients with two or more prevalent vertebral fractures, risk reduction was 36% (p?<?0.001). QoL, assessed by the QUALIOST®, was significantly better (p?=?0.025), and patients without back pain were greater (p?=?0.005) with strontium ranelate than placebo over 4 years. Lumbar BMD increased over 5 years in patients who continued with strontium ranelate, while it decreased in patients who switched to placebo. Emergent adverse events were similar between groups.

Conclusion

In this 4- and 5-year study, strontium ranelate is an effective and safe treatment for long-term treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.     

Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels and vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate on the prevalence of asymptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) using vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) in postmenopausal women. The study cohort consisted of 188 consecutive postmenopausal women (mean age, weight, and body mass index of 57.9 ± 8.5 [41-91]yr, 74.4 ± 13.5 [38-150]kg, and 30.4 ± 5.2 [17.1-50.7]kg/m(2), respectively). Lateral VFA images and scans of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were obtained using a Lunar Prodigy Vision densitometer (GE Healthcare Inc., Waukesha, WI). VFs were defined using a combination of Genant's semiquantitative approach and morphometry. Fifty-eight (30.9%) patients had densitometric osteoporosis. VFs were identified using VFA in 76 (40.4%) patients: 61 women had grade 1 VFs and 15 had grade 2 or 3 VFs. No statistical difference was shown between the 3 groups (absence of VFs, VFs grade 1, and VFs grade 2/3) concerning the biological parameters. Comparison of patients according to quartiles of homocysteine levels showed that women in the highest quartile were older and had a lower bone mineral density (BMD); however, the prevalence of VFs was not statistically different from that of women in the other quartile groups. Stepwise regression analysis showed that homocysteine was not independently associated with the presence of VFs, which was mainly related to the osteoporotic status. Although a weak association was observed between hyperhomocysteinemia and low BMD and a trend to higher prevalence of grade 2/3 VFs was observed, our study did not confirm that homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate status are important determinants of prevalent asymptomatic VFs in postmenopausal women.     

Change in lumbar spine BMD and vertebral fracture risk reduction in teriparatide-treated postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Increases in lumbar spine BMD account for 30-41% of the vertebral fracture risk reduction with teriparatide treatment. The remaining fracture risk reduction is caused by improvements in non-BMD determinants of bone strength. INTRODUCTION: Changes in BMD account for a small percentage of the fracture risk reduction seen in patients treated with antiresorptive drugs. The relationship between changes in lumbar spine BMD and vertebral fracture risk reduction with teriparatide treatment has not been assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relationship between spine BMD and the risk of new vertebral fractures after teriparatide treatment was assessed using data from the Fracture Prevention Trial. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (n = 1637) were randomized to placebo or teriparatide 20 or 40 microg/day for a median of 19 months. Spine BMD was assessed at baseline and 18 months. Vertebrae whose fracture status changed during the trial were removed from the calculation of BMD. Baseline and endpoint lateral spine radiographs were assessed using a visual semiquantitative technique. RESULTS: Both the baseline and change in spine BMD were contributors to vertebral fracture risk. The mean spine BMD increase in teriparatide-treated patients was 0.09 g/cm(2) across tertiles of baseline spine BMD. Compared with placebo, teriparatide significantly reduced the risk of new vertebral fracture for all endpoint BMD values. Teriparatide-mediated increases in spine BMD accounted for 30% (in the low baseline spine BMD tertile) to 41% (in the high baseline spine BMD tertile) of the reduction in vertebral fracture risk. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in BMD account for approximately one third of the vertebral fracture risk reduction seen with teriparatide. The majority of the risk reduction, however, results from improvements in non-BMD determinants of bone strength.     

Comparison of densitometric and radiographic vertebral fracture assessment using the algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) method in postmenopausal women at low and high risk of fracture.

Using ABQ diagnosis, the sensitivity to detect VF of densitometric versus radiographic assessment in 755 postmenopausal women was 71-81% and specificity was 97%. Misdiagnosis was influenced by image quality and was more common for mild deformities. INTRODUCTION: Using densitometric vertebral fracture assessment (VFA), prevalent fractures are identified when vertebral height appears reduced by >or=20%. However, this approach does not discriminate between osteoporotic vertebral fracture (VF) and nonosteoporotic deformity, which increases the false-positive rate. Algorithm-based qualitative diagnosis (ABQ) focuses on vertebral endplate fracture to exclude these deformities but has not been applied in VFA. We wished to determine whether densitometric image quality is adequate for ABQ assessment. Our aims were to (1) calculate agreement between VFA and radiography using ABQ to identify prevalent VF and (2) identify the primary reasons for any discordant diagnosis. METHODS: Radiographic and densitometric spine images for postmenopausal women at low risk (LR; n = 459) and high risk (HR; n = 298) of VF were assessed using ABQ. Agreement between imaging modalities for VF diagnosis was assessed by kappa statistics using ABQ radiographic readings as the gold standard. RESULTS: The prevalence of VF was 11-29% (radiography) and 9-26% (VFA) in the LR and HR groups, respectively. Agreement between imaging modalities was good or very good (kappa = 0.62-0.81 in the LR and HR populations). The sensitivity to detect women with VF by VFA was 71% and 84% in the LR and HR populations, respectively, and specificity was 97%. Fifty-two (77%) and 60 (61%) of vertebrae misclassified by VFA in the LR and HR populations were mild fractures and 37 (54%) and 62 (63%) were wedge fractures. One third of fractures missed by VFA were related to poor or unreadable image quality (n = 27 and 28 vertebrae in the LR and HR populations, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was good agreement between VFA and radiography using ABQ to identify prevalent VF in women at LR or HR of osteoporotic VF. Vertebrae misclassified by VFA were primarily mild fractures or deformities, and two thirds of all fractures missed by VFA were related to poor or unreadable image quality.     

Assessing forearm fracture risk in postmenopausal women

Summary  

A diverse array of bone density, structure, and strength parameters were significantly associated with distal forearm fractures in postmenopausal women, but most of them were also correlated with femoral neck areal bone mineral density (aBMD), which provides an adequate measure of bone fragility at the wrist for routine clinical purposes.     

Vertebral body morphology is associated with incident lumbar vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women. The OFELY study

Summary

We investigate the predictive role of vertebral anterior cortical curvature and height heterogeneity in the occurrence of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. Women who will fracture had shorter vertebral height, greater heterogeneity of height than those who will not fracture, and their anterior vertebral body edge was less concave.

Introduction

Vertebral morphology has been demonstrated to be associated with further risk of fracture. The aim of this study was to analyze vertebral anterior cortical curvature (Ct.curv) and vertebral height heterogeneity in postmenopausal women before the occurrence of a vertebral fracture.

Methods

This case–control study included 29 postmenopausal women who have underwent incident lumbar vertebral fractures (mean age 71?±?9 years, mean time to fractures 9?±?4 years), age-matched with 57 controls. From lateral X-rays of lumbar spine radiographs (T12 to L4), the following parameters were measured: (1) the posterior, middle, and anterior vertebral heights; (2) the heterogeneity of heights evaluated by the coefficient of variation of these three variables; (3) antero-posterior width, a 2D estimator of cross-sectional area; and (4) Ct.curv.

Results

Mean vertebral heights were significantly lower among women who fractured than in controls (p?<?0.05). The anterior and middle heights were significantly lower at L4 and L3 levels in fracture group (p?=?0.02). The heterogeneity of vertebral height was significantly greater in the fracture group (p?=?0.003). In addition, fractured patients had a significantly higher Ct.curv on L3 (p?=?0.04). After adjustment for bone mineral density (BMD), only the heterogeneity of vertebral height remained significant (p?=?0.005).

Conclusion

The current case–control study confirmed the association between vertebral height and occurrence of future vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women. The vertebrae with the smallest Ct.curv tended to fracture less often, and the heterogeneity of vertebral heights was associated with future fracture independently of BMD. An additional validation in a prospective study would be needed to confirm these initial results.