Bone Strength Measured by Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography and the Risk of Nonvertebral Fractures: The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study
2011

Bone Strength and Fracture Risk in Older Men

Sample size: 1143 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Sheu Yahtyng, Zmuda Joseph M, Boudreau Robert M, Petit Moira A, Ensrud Kristine E, Bauer Douglas C, Gordon Christopher L, Orwoll Eric S, Cauley Jane A

Primary Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Hypothesis

Can peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measures of bone strength predict nonvertebral fracture risk in older men?

Conclusion

The study found that lower pQCT measures of bone strength are significantly associated with an increased risk of nonvertebral fractures in older men.

Supporting Evidence

  • Men without fractures had greater bone mineral content and strength than those with fractures.
  • Every standard deviation decrease in pQCT parameters was linked to increased fracture risk.
  • The combination of FN aBMD and pQCT parameters improved fracture prediction.

Takeaway

This study shows that measuring bone strength with special scans can help find older men who are more likely to break bones, even if they don't have osteoporosis.

Methodology

The study used pQCT to measure bone strength in 1143 older men and followed them for an average of 2.9 years to assess fracture incidence.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to the exclusion of nonwhite participants and those with missing data.

Limitations

The study had a small number of fractures and limited generalizability to other populations.

Participant Demographics

1143 white men aged 69 and older.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

(1.4, 2.2)

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/jbmr.172

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