title: Bone mineral density and fracture threshold in South Indian elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate bone mineral density and fracture threshold in South Indian elderly and to correlate BMD with risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of estimating bone mineral density (BMD) was done in 116 elderly patients from the out-patient Department of Geriatric Medicine, Government General Hospital, Chennai. Bone density was estimated using dual X-ray absorptiometry scan. (Dexa Scan-Model Hologic QDR 1000). The BMD, 'T' score and 'Z' score were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 116 patients (53 males, 63 females) 38 had sustained fractures. BMD in 61-70 years age group was 0.765 and 71-80 years age group was 0.735 and 81-90 years was 0.821. BMD in fractures cases was 0.720 and non-fracture cases was 0.80. The average BMD in female patients were 0.78, 0.76, 0.74, 0.575 after 10, 20, 30, 40 years of menopause, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests a BMD value of 0.72 as a fracture threshold in South Indian elderly. Increasing age and post-menopausal state negatively correlates with BMD as in Western studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Government General Hospital and Madras Medical College, Chennai.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Usha
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krishnaswamy
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors