Bone-muscle indices as risk factors for fractures in men: the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study

• Published in: Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 246 - 254
• Main Authors: Wong, A K O, Cawthon, P M, Peters, K W, Cummings, S R, Gordon, C L, Sheu, Y, Ensrud, K, Petit, M, Zmuda, J M, Orwoll, E, Cauley, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01.09.2014
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Composition; Bone and Bones - pathology; Bone Density; Hand Strength; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Osteoporotic Fractures - epidemiology; Osteoporotic Fractures - pathology; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1108-7161

To assess bone-muscle (B-M) indices as risk factors for incident fractures in men. Participants of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study completed a peripheral quantitative computed tomography scan at 66% of their tibial length. Bone macrostructure, estimates of bone strength, and muscle area were computed. Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and body composition were assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Four year incident non-spine and clinical vertebral fractures were ascertained. B-M indices were expressed as bone-to-muscle ratios for: strength, mass and area. Discriminative power and hazards ratios (HR) for fractures were reported. In 1163 men (age: 77.2±5.2 years, body mass index (BMI): 28.0±4.0 kg/m(2), 4.1±0.9 follow-up years, 7.7% of men ⋝1 fracture), B-M indices were smaller in fractured men except for bending and areal indices. Smaller B-M indices were associated with increased fracture risk (HR: 1.30 to 1.74) independent of age and BMI. Strength and mass indices remained significant after accounting for lumbar spine but not total hip aBMD. However, aBMD correlated significantly with B-M indices. Mass and bending B-M indices are risk factors for fractures in men, but may not improve fracture risk prediction beyond that provided by total hip aBMD.