Population Bone Mineral Density Measurements for Chinese Women and Men in Hong Kong

The aim of the study was to establish population ranges of bone mineral density (BMD) for Hong Kong Chinese men and women for the Hologic QDR 2000 bone densitometer, to compare these values with the manufacturer’s reference ranges, to compare these values with population ranges for women obtained for the Norland X26 bone densitometer, and to examine variations between the two densitometers. The subjects were 164 men aged 40–79 years and 436 women aged 20–89 years, who were all ethnic Chinese, recruited from volunteers, social centers for the elderly and general practice clinics. BMD in women began to decline rapidly between ages 50 and 79 years, averaging about 10% loss per decade from the young adult (20–29 years) mean. The percentage losses from young adult mean values in the spine, femroal neck, trochanter and total femur were 23%, 30%, 31% and 33%, respectively, from 20 to 79 years. In the ninth decade no further decrease in BMD occurred with the exception of a further 4% at the hip sites. In men, no decrease in spine BMD occurred between 40 and 70 years. Compared with BMD in the fourth decade, 10%, 13%, and 11% of BMD was lost at the femoral neck, trochanter and total femur, respectively, by the seventh decade. These values show differences compared with the manufacturer’s reference ranges for Caucasians and Japanese. BMD values for the spine were comparable between Hologic and Norland densitometers, but Hologic values for femoral neck and trochanteric regions were lower than the Norland values. Data provided by this study may thus be used as normative values for the Hologic QDR2000 bone densitometer, instead of values provided by the manufacturer. BMD values at the hip sites are not interchangeable between Norland and Hologic bone densitometers, and estimation of numbers of the population with osteoporosis will depend on the model of densitometer used. Received: 31 May 2000 / Accepted: 31 October 2000     

Age, body mass index, current smoking history, and serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels associated with bone mineral density in middle-aged Korean men

Osteoporosis is a growing health problem in women and in men. This cross-sectional study examined the association of anthropometric, lifestyle, and hormonal factors with bone mineral density (BMD) in 152 healthy Korean middle-aged men. Smoking habits and alcohol consumption were assessed by interview. Serum testosterone and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, and serum growth hormone (GH) levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay. GH stimulation tests were performed after the ingestion of 500mg of L-dopa. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and at the femoral neck by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Of the middle-aged men, 3.9% were osteoporotic and 28.3% were osteopenic at the lumbar spine site, and 5.9% were osteoporotic and 45.4% were osteopenic at the femoral neck site. Lumbar spine BMD correlated significantly with body mass index (BMI), and femoral neck BMD correlated significantly with age, BMI, and serum IGF-I levels. The lowest quartile group for serum IGF-I levels showed the lowest femoral neck BMD. Osteoporotic men by lumbar spine BMD showed significant differences from the normal BMD group in terms of BMI and smoking habits. Also, osteoporotic men by femoral neck BMD were significantly different for mean age, BMI, and serum IGF-I levels compared with the normal BMD group. On multiple regression analysis, BMI was found to be the only independent predictor of lumbar spine BMD, whereas both BMI and serum IGF-I levels were found to be the independent predictors of femoral neck BMD. Overall, 28.3%–45.4% of middle-aged Korean men were osteopenic. We suggest that higher age, a lower BMI, current smoking history, and lower serum IGF-I levels are risk factors for lower BMD in middle-aged Korean men; however, serum testosterone levels and GH secretory capacity were not found to be correlated with BMD.     

The Prevalence of Osteoporosis in China,a Nationwide,Multicenter DXA Survey

A number of studies investigated the distribution of BMD values and the prevalence of osteoporosis in China, but their findings varied. Until now, a BMD reference database based on uniform measurements in a large-scale Chinese population has been lacking. A total of 75,321 Chinese adults aged 20 years and older were recruited from seven centers between 2008 and 2018. BMD values at the lumbar spine (L₁–L₄), femoral neck, and total femur were measured by GE Lunar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry systems. BMD values measured in each center were cross-calibrated by regression equations that were generated by scanning the same European spine phantom 10 times at every center. Cubic and multivariate linear regression were performed to assess associations between BMD values and demographic variables. Sex-specific prevalence of osteoporosis was age-standardized based on the year 2010 national census data for the Chinese population. The sex-specific BMD values at each site were negatively associated with age, positively associated with body mass index levels, and lower in the participants from southwest China than in those from other geographic regions after multivariate adjustment. Furthermore, BMD values at the femoral neck and total femur decreased with the year of BMD measurement. The peak BMD values at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur were 1.088 g/cm², 0.966 g/cm², and 0.973 g/cm², respectively, for men, and 1.114 g/cm², 0.843 g/cm², and 0.884 g/cm², respectively, for women. The age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis at the spine or hip was 6.46% and 29.13% for men and women aged 50 years and older, respectively. Currently a total of 10.9 million men and 49.3 million women in China are estimated to have osteoporosis. In our national examination of BMD, we found that BMD values differed by demographic characteristics. We estimated the age-standardize prevalence of osteoporosis in China to be 6.46% and 29.13% respectively, for men and women aged 50 years and older.     

Prevalence of osteoporosis and reference data for lumbar spine and hip bone mineral density in a Korean population

The aims of this study were to establish reference data for bone mineral density (BMD) at central skeletal sites using Lunar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and to estimate the age-and sex-specific prevalence of osteoporosis in a Korean population. We performed a population-based, cross-sectional study. The subjects were 4148 (1810 men and 2338 women) Korean adults, aged 20–79 years. The BMD for central sites (lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward’s triangle) were measured by DXA. The standardized prevalence of osteoporosis among individual aged 50–79 years in lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward’s triangle, and trochanter was 40.1%, 12.4%, 28.4%, and 4.4% in women and 6.5%, 5.9%, 3.7%, and 1.6% in men, respectively. In women, peak BMD occurred in the age range 40–49 years for the femoral neck and trochanter, 30–39 years for the lumbar spine, and 20–29 years for Ward’s triangle. In men, peak BMD values were observed at 20–29 years for all measured sites. This study establishes a normative database for BMD at central skeletal sites using dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry and provides more reliable information on the prevalence of osteoporosis in Korea.     

Bone mineral density in the normal Iranian population: a comparison with American reference data

Summary In order to establish the normative curves for BMD in Iranian individuals, we measured BMDs at the lumbar spine and femoral regions of 760 women and 632 men using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. This study provides a baseline normative for Iranian individuals. BMD values of Iranian subjects were generally lower than those of the American population. Introduction In order to establish the normative curves for BMD in Iranian individuals, we measured BMDs at the lumbar spine and femoral regions. The BMDs at the lumbar spine and femoral neck regions of 760 women and 632 men, which were selected by multi-stage random sampling, were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results The peak bone mass in the males and females at the lumbar spine was reached around the age of 28.5±1.5 and 30±2 and at the neck of the femur was reached around the age of 24±1.5 and 33±2. About 16.4% and 3% of men aged 50 and older were osteoporotic according to American reference data, respectively, but using Iranian normative data for L2-L4 and the neck of the femur, the corresponding values were only 13.4% and 2.1%. Using American reference data, the respective values in women aged 50 and older for the same regions were 44.4% and 12%, whereas according to the Iranian normative data, the corresponding rates were 41.1% and 10.4%. Conclusions This study provides a baseline normative for Iranian individuals. Due to the differences in ethnicity, diet, lifestyle, and small body size, BMD values of Iranian subjects were generally lower than those of the American population.     

Bone mineral density in Norwegian premenopausal women

The aims of this study were: 1) to determine bone mineral density (BMD) in different age groups, 2) to determine the prevalence of low BMD, and 3) to determine the possible association between BMD and a number of risk factors in Norwegian premenopausal women. BMD of the lumbar spine (L₂–L₄), total body, and the hip (total femur, femur neck, and trochanter) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Prodigy, Lunar) in 145 randomly selected women aged 13–39 years. Information on other factors thought to influence BMD was obtained through questionnaire and a clinical interview. The group aged 25–29 years had the highest mean BMD in the total body, lumbar spine, and total femur while the group aged 13–19 years had the highest mean BMD in the femur neck and the trochanter. The mean BMD values of Norwegian premenopausal women were 3.4–5.1% higher than US/European reference data (P<0.05). Five percent of the study sample aged 20–39 years were defined with low BMD (Z-score <–2) using the standard values from this study. Weight-bearing physical activity, body weight, body height, and age were positively associated with BMD, whilst menstrual dysfunction and previous pregnancy were associated with lower BMD in some of the measurement sites. The results show that the factors associated with BMD are extensive, and the strategies to prevent low BMD have to be multifactorial. A follow-up study should be conducted on the study sample to investigate actual mean BMD values and BMD changes through time.     

Ultrasound and dual X-ray absorptiometry densitometry in women with hip fracture

To assess the usefulness of the measurement of the os calcis by ultrasound, a method that probably reflects bone quality as well as density, we have studied 54 women with hip fracture of the proximal femur and a control group. Ultrasound evaluation of the os calcis [broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of the sound (SOS), and a combined index (stiffness)], and bone mineral density (BMD) determination over the proximal femur by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were performed. Weight, BMD, and ultrasound values in the hip fracture patients were significantly lower than controls (P<0.001). The Z-scores for BUA and stiffness were not different than that for femoral neck. Ward's triangle or trochanteric BMD (between-1.7 and -1.5). The odds ratios determined by receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis were greater at the femoral neck (25.1) and BUA (24.4). Intermediate values were found at stiffness (16.9), Ward's triangle (12.8), and trochanter (11.1), and lower values were obtained at SOS (4.2). In turn, patients with trochanteric hip fractures had a significantly lower femoral neck and Ward's triangle BMD, stiffness, and BUA than patients with cervical hip fractures. Comparing a subgroup of 30 women with hip fractures without vertebral fractures with an age-matched group of 87 women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, both groups were of similar weight and BMD but all ultrasound values were significantly lower in the hip fractures compared with vertebral fracture patients (P<0.05-P<0.01). Our findings suggest that in women with hip fractures, ultrasound evaluation of the os calcis has diagnostic sensitivity comparable to DXA of the femur and could be useful to predict hip fracture risk. Ultrasound values are lower in hip fractures compared with vertebral fracture, age-matched women and in older compared with younger hip fracture patients.     

Comparison and investigation of bone mineral density in opposing femora by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine was used to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) of both femora in 760 female volunteers. Each volunteer completed a questionnaire and exclusion criteria were applied such that only 480 of these were considered normal subjects. The remaining 280 women failed to comply with the criteria and were considered abnormal; their BMD results were analysed separately. Two abnormal subgroups, one with previous long bone fractures and one with radiologically diagnosed osteopenia, were studied. BMD values for femoral neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter were compared between the two femora in all the above groups. No dominance relationship was found when comparing left to right femur, averaged over any population studied, but large differences were found between the femora in individual volunteers. There was a high correlation between BMD in opposing femora of 0.91, 0.91 and 0.84 for the femoral neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter respectively. However, in normal subjects the percentage variation in these regions ranged up to 34%, 64% and 80% respectively at the different femoral sites. In addition, the normal population was divided into two subgroups, one in which the density difference between the femora was large, and the other in which the difference was statistically insignificant. The analytical and anatomical variations between these two groups were investigated. Only part of the difference appeared to be due to analytical problems and it seems that there is a genuine difference in femoral density. Poor correlation for femoral neck percentage density difference was found with average BMD, age, height and weight in the normal population. This study concludes that a measurement of BMD in one femur can not reliably predict the BMD in the contralateral femur. It is therefore recommended that routine density measurements should include scanning of both femora.     

中国健康男性腰椎和股骨近端的骨密度(英文)

目的:建立中国健康汉族男性的骨密度(BMD)参考数据库,以评价群体中骨质疏松的患病率。方法:对上海市1385例20-89岁健康汉族男性使用双能 X 线吸收仪测定腰椎1-4(L1-4)和股骨近端的 BMD。结果:年龄与股骨近端各部位 BMD 值呈显著负相关,但与腰椎 BMD 值之间无相关性。以20-39岁年龄段的男性腰椎和股骨近端各部位 BMD 均值作为峰值,根据 WHO 制定的骨质疏松诊断标准,中国男性 L1-4、全髋部、股骨颈、大转子和转子间部位 BMD 的骨质疏松诊断值分别为0.719、0.638、0.575、0.437、0.725 g/cm~2;使用本参考数据库,在1084例50岁以上男性中 L1-4、全髋部、股骨颈、大转子和转子间部位骨质疏松检出率分别为5.4%、3.8%、6.3%、1.8%和2.8%,而使用美国非西班牙裔白种男性参考数据库(NHANES Ⅲ),髋部各部位骨质疏松和骨量减少的检出率均显著高于使用本研究中的中国参考数据库。结论:中国健康汉族男性 BMD 参考数据库的建立,将有利于中国男性骨质疏松的正确诊断。     

Normative bone mineral density data at multiple skeletal sites in Indian subjects

Summary

Age-related change in bone mineral density (BMD) varied according to skeletal site in Indian subjects. A larger proportion of subjects was classified as osteoporotic and osteopenic using the Caucasian database than newly derived peak BMD values at most skeletal sites. Results establish useful normative data for reliable interpretations of individual dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) values

Introduction

Osteoporosis is believed to occur at a relatively younger age in the Indian population. With increasing knowledge on significant differences in BMD between various racial groups, there is increased emphasis for the use of population-specific reference database.

Methods

BMD at multiple skeletal sites was measured using DEXA (Prodigy, Lunar) in 615 Indian women (20–86 years) and 489 Indian men (20–83 years). Best-fit models were drawn for each skeletal site. Osteopenia and osteoporosis diagnosis rates were calculated using Caucasian and derived Indian peak BMD values.

Results

Age-related change in BMD varied with skeletal site in both sexes. Peak BMD in women was observed between 31 and 40 years of age at the hip, spine, and radius 33% and between 20 and 30 years at the ultradistal radius. Peak BMD in men was attained between 20 and 30 years at the hip and radius 33% and between 31 and 40 years at the spine and ultradistal radius. A larger proportion of Indian subjects was classified as osteoporotic and osteopenic based on the Caucasian database than newly derived Indian peak BMD values at all skeletal sites except radius 33% and femoral neck in females above 40 years of age.

Conclusion

Results establish useful normative data for the Indian population for reliable interpretations of individual DEXA values.     

Muscle-Bone Interactions Across age in Men

This study examined the relationship of muscular strength and lean tissue with age-related patterns in bone mineral density (BMD) in men 20-81 years of age. Subjects were assigned to one of three age groups, Young Men (YM), (n = 25, 20-39 yrs), Middle-aged Men (MM) (n = 24, 40-59 yrs), and Older Men (OM) (n = 23, 60-81 yrs). Isotonic and isokinetic strength was assessed for the quadriceps and hamstrings muscle groups. DXA (Lunar DPX-IQ) was used to measure spine, hip, and total body BMD and body composition. OM had significantly lower (p < 0.05) total lean body mass (LBM) than MM and lower leg lean mass (LM) than YM and MM. OM had significantly lower (p < 0.01) BMD than YM and MM at the femoral neck and total hip sites and a higher proportion of OM were osteopenic and osteoporotic at the total hip site. Isotonic and isokinetic strength for both muscle groups was positively related (p < 0.05) with the hip BMD sites (r = 0.38-.67). Leg LM also was positively related to hip BMD (r = 0.37-.58). Multiple Regression analyses determined that age and lean mass (LBM or leg LM) were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of femoral neck, and total hip BMD, while lean mass (LBM or leg LM) was a significant predictor (p < 0.05) of BMD at the spine and trochanter sites. Isotonic and isokinetic leg strength variables were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of the total body, total hip and trochanter BMD. In conclusion, leg strength, leg LM, and total LBM were significant predictors of BMD in men, independent of age. These findings emphasize the importance of maintaining lean body mass for the bone health of aging men.

Key Points

• Osteoporosis is an important health problem for men.
• Bone mineral density for the hip was lower in older men compared to their younger and middle-age counterparts. There were age group differences in the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis for the total hip BMD site.
• Muscular strength and bone-free lean body mass were significant predictors of hip BMD, independent of age, thus reinforcing the importance of contractile forces on skeletal health.
• Maintenance of muscle mass and strength should be encouraged in aging men for the reduction of osteoporosis risk.

Key words: Lean body mass, osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle strength, bone density     

骨密度结合股骨近端几何参数预测老年髋部骨折

目的研究老年人骨密度(Bone mineral density,BMD)值结合股骨近端几何参数是否能提高骨质疏松性髋部骨折危险性的预测。方法将85例绝经后妇女髋部骨折患者按骨折类型分组, 其中52例股骨颈骨折,33例转子间骨折。对照组100例老年女性。在骨盆片上测量股骨近端几何参数,在股骨颈、Ward’s三角和转子处测量BMD值,对结果进行统计学处理分析。结果骨折组的BMD值均低于对照组(P<0．01);股骨干皮质厚度与股骨颈BMD值有相关性(r=0．45,P< 0．01);逐步线性回归分析结果显示股骨距内侧皮质厚度、转子处BMD值、颈干角和Ward’s三角 BMD值相结合是预测髋部骨折最好方法(r=0．74,r2=0．53,P<0．01)。结论骨密度值结合放射学测量股骨近端几何参数能提高对骨质疏松性髋部骨折及骨折类型的预测。     

Inappropriate Reference Range for Peak Bone Mineral Density in Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry: Implications for the Interpretation of T-scores

An inappropriate reference range for peak bone mineral density (BMD) may result in identification of an incorrect proportion of subjects with osteopenia and osteoporosis at dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In this study, we assessed the prevalence of low BMD in Turkish young adults with respect to local population reference range T-scores and the US reference range T-scores. The BMD values of lumbar spine (L1–L4) and proximal femur (femoral neck, intertrochanter, trochanter, Ward”s triangle and total) were measured by DXA in 323 healthy young adults (171 women, 152 men) aged 19–25 years. The World Health Organization criteria for the diagnosis of osteopenia (−2.5 <T-score <−1) and osteoporosis (T-score ≤−2.5) were applied. In women, the means of the US reference range T-scores were significantly lower than zero at the spine and proximal femoral sites (p<0.0001). In men, the means of the US reference range T-scores were significantly lower than zero at the spine, femoral neck, intertrochanter, total femur (p<0.0001) and trochanter (p<0.05), but not at Ward”s triangle (p=0.92). When the diagnoses were based on local population reference range T-scores instead of the US reference range T-scores, the prevalence of low BMD (T-score <−1) in women fell from 50.3% to 14.0% at the lumbar spine and from 60.8% to 14.6% at the femoral neck, and in men from 42.8% to 15.8% at the lumbar spine and from 30.9% to 17.1% at the femoral neck. Our data suggest that individual populations should use their own reference range T-scores to avoid misdiagnoses of osteopenia and osteoporosis by DXA. Received: 4 November 1999 / Accepted: 29 March 2000     

Body Weight Change Since Menopause and Percentage Body Fat Mass are Predictors of Subsequent Bone Mineral Density Change of the Proximal Femur in Women Aged 75 Years and Older: Results of a 5 Year Prospective Study

Few studies have evaluated risk factors for bone loss in elderly women. We examined risk factors associated with a 5-year longitudinal change in bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip in healthy women aged 75 years and older. The BMD of 276 women from the French EPIDOS (Epidémiologie des Osteoporoses) study was assessed in Montpellier from 1992 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 1998. BMD was measured at the femoral neck, trochanter, and Wards area using the same Lunar densitometer. We examined the relationship between clinical and behavioral factors at baseline and their variations during follow-up, with percentage BMD change adjusted for baseline BMD. Depending on the femur subregion studied, a significant decrease in BMD (exceeding the least significant difference, i.e., >2.8 CV) was observed in 36.2% to 51.1% of women. Multivariate analysis showed that both postmenopausal weight change before baseline and baseline percentage of fat mass were positively correlated with BMD change at the Wards triangle and the trochanter. Yearly absolute and relative weight changes over the follow-up period were significantly associated with change of trochanter and femoral neck BMD. Our results show that maintenance of body weight throughout the postmenopause period and body fat mass play protective roles against bone loss at the proximal femur in women aged 75 years and older and suggest the value in including assessment of weight change throughout postmenopause and percentage body fat mass in screening programs for elderly women who are at higher risk of accelerated bone loss.Members of the EP1DOS (Epidémiologie des Osteoporoses) Study Group. Coordinators: G. Brèart, P. Dargent-Molina (epidemiology); P.J. Meunier, A.M. Schott (clinical aspects); D. Hans (bone densitometry and ultrasound quality control); and P.D. Delmas (biochemistry). Principal Investigators(C enter): C. Baudoin, J.L. Sebert (Amiens); M.C. Chapuy, A.M. Schott (Lyon); F. Favier, C. Marcelli (Montpellier); E. Hausherr, C.J. Menkes, C. Cormier (Paris); and H. Grandjean, C. Ribot (Toulouse).     

Impact of Detraining on Bone Loss in Former Collegiate Female Gymnasts

Undesirable changes in health-related parameters are thought to occur in retiring female athletes, but this has not been examined in longitudinal studies. The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal changes in bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, and dietary intake in gymnasts and controls. Nonathletic, college-age women (n = 9) were selected as a control group for comparison to the gymnasts (n = 10). Initial BMDs for the gymnasts were determined by using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar, DPX) at the beginning of their final competitive year. Initial BMDs for the controls were measured during a similar time-frame. Follow-up measurements were made at least 1-year after the initial measurement. Gymnasts had significantly greater BMD of the femoral neck (1.262 versus 1.058 g/cm², respectively), Wards triangle (1.230 versus 1.008 g/cm²), greater trochanter (1002 versus 0.822 g/cm²), and total body (1.232 versus 1.145 g/cm²) than controls while still competing (P < .05). Following retirement from competition, (mean years of retirement, 4 years), BMD of the gymnasts remained significantly greater than controls at total body, femoral neck, trochanter, and Wards triangle (P < .05). Significant declines in femoral neck, Wards triangle, and greater trochanter BMD were found in both gymnasts and controls (0.72% to 1.9% per year), but only gymnasts had a significant decline at the lumbar spine (0.87% per year). In conclusion, BMD changes in former gymnasts appear to be site-specific, and gymnasts continue to have greater proximal femur BMD than controls, despite their decreased exercise, which may help postpone or prevent osteoporosis later in life.     

Reference values of bone mineral density and prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese adults

Summary

We pooled bone mineral density (BMD) data published in 91 articles including 139,912 Chinese adults and then established a national-wide BMD reference database at the lumbar spine and femur neck for Chinese adults. The prevalence of osteoporosis in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population was also estimated.

Introduction

Well-accepted reference value of BMD is lacking in Chinese. We established the reference database and assessed osteoporosis prevalence based on published literature conducted in the Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong Chinese.

Methods

We searched for all published articles indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, CNKI, and SinoMed up to January 2013. We included cross-sectional studies that examined BMD using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the femur neck (FN) and/or lumbar spine (LS) in healthy adults. Overall age-specific mean (SD) BMD were pooled after standardization.

Results

Ninety-one studies including 51,906 males and 88,006 females (≥20 years) in 38 cities in China were included in this pooling study. Gender- and age-specific reference curves of standardized BMD (sBMD) at the LS and FN were constructed. The sBMD cutoffs for osteoporosis classification were 0.746 and 0.549 in women, and 0.680 and 0.568 g/cm² in men; age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis was 23.9 % and 12.5 % in women and 3.2 % and 5.3 % in men aged ≥50 years at the LS and FN, respectively. Meta-regression analysis showed that greater age and altitude, lower latitude, smaller city size, earlier detection time, and random sample were correlated to lower sBMD in at least one gender-specific bone sites; the Hologic DXA produced a higher value of FN sBMD than the other two devices (Lunar and Norland).

Conclusion

We have established a national-wide BMD reference database at the LS and FN for Chinese adults and estimated the prevalence of osteoporosis in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population.     

Dissimilar Spine and Femoral Z-Scores in Premenopausal Women

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences exist in premenopausal women between z-scores for lumbar spine and proximal femoral bone mineral densities (BMD). Participants were 237 women ranging in age from 20 to 45 years. BMDs of the lumbar spine and proximal femur (femoral neck, Ward's area, and trochanter) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar DPX). Mean (±SD) age, height, and weight of the participants were 29.4 ± 6.9 years, 164.4 ± 6.1 cm, and 64.9 ± 12.1 kg, respectively. Lumbar spine BMD and BMD at the femoral neck, Ward's area, and trochanter were significantly correlated with large SEEs (r = 0.59–0.65; SEE = 0.09–0.11). No positive correlation with age and BMD at any site was seen in this population but a significant negative correlation with age was seen in the proximal femur beginning at age 30. Twenty to 24% of the 20–29-year-olds exhibited a difference in z-scores of greater than 1 between the spine and sites in the proximal femur. This percentage increased to 32–46% in the 30–45-year-olds but the nature of the observed differences changed. The differences in spine and proximal femoral z-scores that are seen in the older age group appear to be the result of the earlier onset of bone loss in the proximal femur rather than an initial difference in peak bone mass which has been maintained. Received: 28 August 1996 / Accepted: 25 April 1997     

Peak bone mineral density and its determinants in an Asian Indian population

Data on peak bone mineral density (BMD) and its determinants in Asian Indians are limited. We studied the peak BMD and its determinants in Asian Indians. A total of 1137 young (age: 25--35yr) healthy volunteers of either sex (558 men and 579 women) were recruited for dietary evaluation, analyses of serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, and measurement of BMD with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In men and women, peak bone mass (PBM) at the femoral neck, femoral trochanter, total femur, and lumbar spine was achieved between 25 and 30yr of age, whereas PBM at the femoral intertrochanter occurred between 30 and 35yr of age. Peak BMD was lower than that of Caucasians by 15.2--21.1% in men and 14.4--20.6% in women. On stepwise multiple regression, height and weight were the most consistent predictors of BMD at all sites in both groups. In men, 25(OH)D positively predicted BMD at the hip, whereas in women, serum iPTH negatively predicted BMD at the femoral trochanter and total femur. The study concluded that Asian Indians have significantly lower peak BMD than Caucasians and that weight and height are the most consistent predictors of BMD at all sites in both men and women.     

Population-based geographic variations in dxa bone density in Europe: The evos study

The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in bone density between 16 European populations, 13 of which were participants in the European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (EVOS). Men and women aged 50–80 years were recruited randomly from local population registers, stratified in 5-year age bands. The other three centres recruited similarly. Random samples of 20–100% of EVOS subjects were invited for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) densitometry of the lumbar spine and/or proximal femur using Hologic, Lunar or Norland pencil beam machines or, in one centre, a Sopha fan-beam machine. Cross-calibration of the different machines was undertaken using the European Spine Phantom prototype (ESPp). Highly significant differences in mean bone density were demonstrated between centres, giving rise to between-centre SDs in bone density that were about a quarter of a population SD. These differences persisted when centres using Hologic machines and centres using Lunar machines were considered separately. The centres were ranked differently according to whether male or female subjects were being considered and according to site of measurement (L2–4, femoral neck or femoral trochanter). As expected, bone mineral density (BMD) had a curvilinear relationship with age, and apparent rates of decrease slowed as age advanced past 50 years in both sexes. In the spine, not only did male BMD usually appear to increase with age, but there was a highly significant difference between centres in the age effect in both sexes, suggesting a variability in the impact of osteoarthritis between centres. Weight was consistently positively associated with BMD, but the effects of height and armspan were less consistent. Logarithmic transformation was needed to normalize the regressions of BMD on the independent variates, and after transformation, all sites except the femoral neck in females showed significant increases in SD with age. Interestingly, the effect of increasing weight was to decrease dispersion in proximal femur measurements in both sexes, further accentuating the tendency in women for low body mass index to be associated with osteoporosis as defined by densitometry. It is concluded that there are major differences between BMD values in European population samples which, with variations in anthro-pometric variables, have the potential to contribute substantially to variations in rates of osteoporotic fracture risk in Europe.     

Bone mineral density of the proximal femur and lumbar spine in glucocorticoid-treated asthmatic patients

The importance of the proximal femur as a site of osteoporotic fractures, the development of techniques for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement at this site and the apparent selectivity of the osteopenic effects of glucorticoids have focused attention on the assessment of proximal femoral BMD in steroid-treated subjects. We have, therefore, measured BMD (Lunar DPX) in the lumbar spine and proximal femur of 31 asthmatic patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy (mean ± SEM dose 16 ± 1 mg prednisone/day, mean duration 10 ± 2 years). BMD values expressed as the percentage of normal age- and sex-appropriate mean values, after weight adjustment, were as follows: lumbar spine 80 ± 2%, femoral neck 83 ± 2%, Ward's triangle 78 ± 3% and trochanter 86 ± 2%. All these values were significantly less than control (p<0.0001) and the decrement in BMD was more marked in Ward's triangle than at the other two femoral sites (p<0.05). In all regions BMD was unrelated to dose or duration of steroid treatment. It is concluded that there are reductions in the BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur in glucocorticoid-treated asthmatics, probably reflecting the mixed cortical/trabecular makeup of both regions.