title: Bone mineral density of the spine and femur in healthy Saudis.
abstract: The reference values of bone mineral density (BMD) were determined in healthy Saudis of both sexes and compared with US / northern European and other reference data. BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and femur including subregions: trochanter, Ward's triangle, and neck, in 1,980 randomly selected Saudis (age range 20-79 years; 915 males and 1,065 females) living in the Jeddah area. Age-related changes in BMD were similar to those described in US / northern European and Lebanese reference data. Decreases in BMD of males were evident (% per year): 0.3-0.8 (lumbar spine), 0.2-0.4 (femoral trochanter), 0.2-1.4 (Ward's triangle), and 0.2-0.7 (femoral neck). Also, decreases in BMD of females were observed (% per year): 0.8-0.9 (lumbar spine), 0.7-0.9 (Ward's triangle), and 0.3-0.7 (femoral neck). Using stepwise multiple regressions that included both body weight and height, the former had 2-4 times greater effect on BMD than the latter. Using the mean BMD of the <35-year-old group the T-score values were calculated for Saudis. The prevalence of osteoporosis in Saudis (50-79 years) at the lumbar spine using the manufacturer's vs Saudi reference data was 38.3-47.7% vs 30.5-49.6 (P<0.000), respectively. Similarly, based on BMD of total femur, the prevalence of osteoporosis using the manufacturer's vs Saudi reference data was 6.3-7.8% vs 1.2-4.7% (P<0.000), respectively. Saudis (> or =50 years) in the lowest quartile of body weight exhibited higher prevalence of osteoporosis (25.6% in females and 15.5% in males) as compared to that of the highest quartiles (0.0% in females and 0.8% in males). The present study underscores the importance of using population-specific reference values for BMD measurements to avoid overdiagnosis and/or underdiagnosis of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Saudi Osteoporosis Research Group, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. ardawims@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M Salleh M
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ardawi
authors.forename: Abdulraouf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Maimany
authors.forename: Talal M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bahksh
authors.forename: Hasan A N
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nasrat
authors.forename: Waleed A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Milaat
authors.forename: Raja M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Al-Raddadi
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio