title: [Variability of female peak bone mineral density at different skeletal regions and its effect on diagnosis of osteoporosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes in variability (V) of female peak bone mineral density (PBMD) at different skeletal regions and its effects on diagnosis of osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a Hologic QDR 4500A fan beam X-ray bone densitometer to measure the BMD at different skeletal regions (anteroposterior and supine lateral spine, hip, and forearm) in 1,810 women between the ages of 15-96 from Changsha city (Hunan province) in the People's Republic of China, the population grouped in every 5 years of age, then to get PBMD and its variability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to every 5 years of age, the analysis showed that PBMD occurred varied in the age of 20-44, the variability ranged 6.0% to 17.0%, in an average of (11.4 +/- 3.1)%, the maximal value (17%) of V is at Ward's triangle, the minimal value of V is at distal one-third site of forearm (6%). The incidence of osteoporosis changed with V of PBMD at different skeletal regions. With different diagnostic standards, the incidences of OP also differed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in PBMD and its V at different skeletal regions and the different diagnostic standard obviously affects the incidence of OP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, ChangSha 410011.
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013131:Spine / Q000737:chemistry