Bone mineral density of the spine and femur in healthy Saudis

• Published in: Osteoporosis international Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 43 - 55
• Main Authors: ARDAWI, M. Salleh M, MAIMANY, Abdulraouf A, BAHKSH, Talal M, NASRAT, Hasan A. N, MILAAT, Waleed A, AL-RADDADI, Raja M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer 01.01.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon - methods; Adult; Age; Age Distribution; Aged; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Height - physiology; Body Weight - physiology; Bone density; Bone Density - physiology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Femur - physiology; Fractures; Hospitals; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - epidemiology; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Prevalence; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Saudi Arabia - epidemiology; Sex Distribution; Waist-Hip Ratio; Saudi Arabia; United States > US; Osteoporosis; Femur; Bone mineral density; Spine; Diseases of the osteoarticular system
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00198-004-1639-9

The reference values of bone mineral density (BMD) were determined in healthy Saudis of both sexes and compared with US / northern European and other reference data. BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and femur including subregions: trochanter, Ward's triangle, and neck, in 1,980 randomly selected Saudis (age range 20-79 years; 915 males and 1,065 females) living in the Jeddah area. Age-related changes in BMD were similar to those described in US / northern European and Lebanese reference data. Decreases in BMD of males were evident (% per year): 0.3-0.8 (lumbar spine), 0.2-0.4 (femoral trochanter), 0.2-1.4 (Ward's triangle), and 0.2-0.7 (femoral neck). Also, decreases in BMD of females were observed (% per year): 0.8-0.9 (lumbar spine), 0.7-0.9 (Ward's triangle), and 0.3-0.7 (femoral neck). Using stepwise multiple regressions that included both body weight and height, the former had 2-4 times greater effect on BMD than the latter. Using the mean BMD of the <35-year-old group the T-score values were calculated for Saudis. The prevalence of osteoporosis in Saudis (50-79 years) at the lumbar spine using the manufacturer's vs Saudi reference data was 38.3-47.7% vs 30.5-49.6 (P<0.000), respectively. Similarly, based on BMD of total femur, the prevalence of osteoporosis using the manufacturer's vs Saudi reference data was 6.3-7.8% vs 1.2-4.7% (P<0.000), respectively. Saudis (> or =50 years) in the lowest quartile of body weight exhibited higher prevalence of osteoporosis (25.6% in females and 15.5% in males) as compared to that of the highest quartiles (0.0% in females and 0.8% in males). The present study underscores the importance of using population-specific reference values for BMD measurements to avoid overdiagnosis and/or underdiagnosis of osteoporosis.