title: Bone mineral density and hip axis length in Singapore's multiracial population.
abstract: Ethnic differences in bone density and hip geometry are known to exist, even within the same population. A recent study in Singapore showed that there were significant racial differences in hip fracture rates, with Chinese having the highest incidence of hip fractures. The aim of this study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) and hip axis length in Chinese, Malay, and Indian women. A total of 1575 women aged 20-59 yr were recruited, of which 77.6% (1222) were Chinese, 7.7% (122) Malays, and 14.7% (231) Indians. There was no significant difference in peak BMD of both lumbar spine and femoral neck among the three ethnic groups. However, in the older age group (50-59 yr), both Chinese and Malay women had significantly lower femoral neck BMD compared to Indian women. There was no significant loss in BMD of the lumbar spine between the second and fifth decades in all the three races. Between the second and fifth decade, Chinese and Malay women had significant bone loss in the femoral neck of 6.6% and 8.2%, respectively, whereas Indian women did not show any significant bone loss. Chinese women had significantly longer hip axis length compared to either Malay or Indian women (9.87 +/- 0.52 cm vs 9.67 +/- 0.49 cm; p < 0.005; and 9.69 +/- 0.55 cm, p < 0.05, respectively). The initial findings suggest racial differences in bone density and hip geometry exist in the local community. Future research should include prospective, longitudinal studies to determine the age-related bone loss in these three racial groups. It is also important to investigate the differences of spine and hip fracture rates and their relationship with bone density and hip axis length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore. gosgohj@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: James C H
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Siew Leng
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Shamal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das De
authors.forename: Shamal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DasDe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012846:Singapore; D044465:White People