title: Metacarpal bone loss in middle-aged women: "horse racing" in a 9-year population based follow-up study.
abstract: Differences in the rate of metacarpal bone loss were evaluated in a 9 year population based follow-up study among 799 women initially aged 45-64 years, using initial and follow-up radiographs of the hands. Metacarpal bone loss started around the age of 50 years and was present in more than 95% of the women. The average annual rate of loss was approximately 1% of the initial value. The prevalence of osteopenia increased from 5% for women aged 45-49 years, up to 68% for women aged 70-76. The rate of bone loss was not similar for each individual. Regression analyses of rate of change-in-RCA on initial level of RCA indicated the presence of a consistent subgroup of fast bone losers. However, osteopenia at follow-up was more accurately predicted from initial bone density than from differences in the rate of loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Hemert
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vandenbroucke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Valkenburg
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis