Risk factors for proximal humerus, forearm, and wrist fractures in elderly men and women: the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study.
Fractures of the proximal humerus, forearm, and wrist account for approximately one third of total osteoporotic fractures in the elderly. Several risk factors for these fractures were evaluated in this prospective study of 739 men and 1,105 women aged > or =60 years in Dubbo, Australia. During follow-up (1989-1996), the respective incidences of humerus and of forearm and wrist fractures, per 10,000 person-years, were 22.6 and 33.8 for men and 54.8 and 124.6 for women. Independent predictors of humerus fracture were femoral neck bone mineral density (FNBMD) (relative risk (RR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2, 4.5) in men and FNBMD (RR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.7, 3.5) and height loss (RR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.2) in women. For forearm and wrist fractures, risk factors were FNBMD (men: RR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.3; women: RR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 1.9) and height loss (men: RR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.3; women: RR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.2). In addition, dietary calcium (men: RR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.6) and a history of falls (women: RR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4, 2.6) were also significant. These data suggest that elderly men and women largely share common risk factors for upper limb fractures and that FNBMD is the primary risk factor.
Bone and Mineral Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. t.v.nguyen@unsw.edu.au
T V
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Nguyen
J R
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Center
P N
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Sambrook
J A
JA
Eisman
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology