Bone Health · Bone Mineral Density

Change in bone mineral density as a function of age in women and men and association with the use of antiresorptive agents

Berger C, Langsetmo L, Joseph L, Hanley DA, Davison KS, Josse R, Kreiger N, Tenenhouse A, Goltzman D, Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group

Published June 19, 2008 CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De l'Association Medicale Canadienne, 178(13), 1660-1668
DOI 10.1503/cmaj.071416 PMID 18559803 PMC PMC2413314

Abstract

Background

Measurement of bone mineral density is the most common method of diagnosing and assessing osteoporosis. We sought to estimate the average rate of change in bone mineral density as a function of age among Canadians aged 25-85, stratified by sex and use of antiresorptive agents.

Methods

We examined a longitudinal cohort of 9423 participants. We measured the bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck at baseline in 1995-1997, and at 3-year (participants aged 40-60 years only) and 5-year follow-up visits. We used the measurements to compute individual rates of change.

Results

Bone loss in all 3 skeletal sites began among women at age 40-44. Bone loss was particularly rapid in the total hip and was greatest among women aged 50-54 who were transitioning from premenopause to postmenopause, with a change from baseline of -6.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] -7.5% to -4.9%) over 5 years. The rate of decline, particularly in the total hip, increased again among women older than 70 years. Bone loss in all 3 skeletal sites began at an earlier age (25-39) among men than among women. The rate of decline of bone density in the total hip was nearly constant among men 35 and older and then increased among men older than 65. Use of antiresorptive agents was associated with attenuated bone loss in both sexes among participants aged 50-79.

Interpretation

The period of accelerated loss of bone mineral density in the hip bones occurring among women and men older than 65 may be an important contributor to the increased incidence of hip fracture among patients in that age group. The extent of bone loss that we observed in both sexes indicates that, in the absence of additional risk factors or therapy, repeat testing of bone mineral density to diagnose osteoporosis could be delayed to every 5 years.

Topics

By this author

Related research

Bone Health › Bone Mineral Density › Measurement
Nancy Kreiger, Alan Tenenhouse
N Kreiger, A Tenenhouse
PMID 18559803 18559803 DOI 10.1503/cmaj.071416 10.1503/cmaj.071416 Berger et al. 2008, Berger 2008

Cite this article

Berger, C., Langsetmo, L., Joseph, L., Hanley, D. A., Davison, K. S., Josse, R., Kreiger, N., Tenenhouse, A., Goltzman, D., & Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group (2008). Change in bone mineral density as a function of age in women and men and association with the use of antiresorptive agents. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De l'Association Medicale Canadienne, 178(13), 1660-1668. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.071416