Body size and risk for clinical fractures in older women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group.
BACKGROUND
Small body size predicts hip fractures in older women.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that small body size predicts the risk for other clinical fractures.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Population-based listings in four areas of the United States.


METHODS
8059 ambulatory nonblack women 65 years of age or older.


METHODS
Weight, weight change since 25 years of age, body mass index, lean body mass and percent body fat, and nonspine fractures during 6.4 years of follow-up.


RESULTS
Compared with women in the highest quartile of weight, women in the lowest quartile had relative risks of 2.0 (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.8) for hip fractures, 2.3 (CI, 1.1 to 4.7) for pelvis fractures, and 2.4 (CI, 1.5 to 3.9) for rib fractures. Adjustment for total-hip bone mineral density eliminated the elevated risk. Results were similar for other body size measures. Smaller body size was not a risk factor for humerus, elbow, wrist ankle, or foot fractures.


CONCLUSIONS
Total body weight is useful in the prediction of hip, pelvis, and rib fractures when bone mineral density has not been measured.
Margolis
K L
KL
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Hennepin County Medical Center, and School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55415, USA.
Ensrud
K E
KE
Schreiner
P J
PJ
Tabor
H K
HK
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000368:Aged; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States