Prediction of vertebral fractures is specific for gender and site of bone mineral density measurement

Jacobs JWG et al. – Prediction of fractures is specific for gender and site of BMD measurement.

Methods
Lateral radiographs of the spine were obtained from 314 Portuguese individuals aged 60 years or older (205 women and 109 men) with bone mineral density (BMD) measurements at several sites
Associations between BMD at various sites, participant characteristics, and vertebral fractures were investigated.
Results
BMD measurements at all sites significantly predicted the presence of osteoporotic vertebral deformities in women but not in men.
BMD assessments were statistically significantly related to vertebral deformities in women but not in men.
BMD measurements of the lumbar spine and of the forearm, adjusted for gender, age, and body mass index, significantly predicted the presence of vertebral deformity, but BMD of the hip sites did not.

Journal of Rheumatology, 11/20/09