Identification of low bone mass in a developmental center: finger bone mineral density measurement in 562 residents.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to measure finger bone mineral density (BMD) in residents of a developmental center.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study performed during the residents' annual physical examination.


METHODS
This study was conducted at a long-term care facility for people with severe developmental disabilities (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism).


METHODS
Study participants included 562 (67%) of the 833 residents aged 30 years or more on whom we could measure BMD.


METHODS
We measured BMD by peripheral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on the residents' middle fingers by Accudexa. The instrument converted the BMD values into T-scores relative to the manufacturer's reference young healthy population. We retrieved the residents' clinical variables from a centralized database.


RESULTS
T-scores for the 562 residents were: <-2.5 standard deviation (SD) (osteoporotic): 98 (17%), -2.5 SD>t <-1 SD (osteopenic): 156 (28%), and >-1 SD (normal): 308 (55%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that BMD was significantly lower in residents (compared with their counterparts) with inability to ambulate, male gender, white race, quadriplegia, profound mental retardation, and older age.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for heightened osteoporosis surveillance and preventive effort in this population in which almost half of the residents had previously undiagnosed subnormal BMD, including one sixth who had osteoporosis.
Lohiya
Ghan-Shyam
GS
Fairview Developmental Center, Costa Mesa, California 92626, USA. glohiya@fdc.dds.ca.gov
Tan-Figueroa
Lilia
L
Iannucci
Anita
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000453:epidemiology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors