title: Associates of bone mineral density in older African Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess correlates of bone mineral density (BMD) in older African Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  189 women and 115 men over age 64.
  
  
  METHODS
  Variables investigated: BMD by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), medications, cardiovascular disease risk factors, demographic, lifestyle factors and functional status. Variables showing univariate correlation with BMD (p < or = 0.1) were entered into sex-stratified linear regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age range 67-96 (mean 75). The mean BMD (gm/ cm2 +/- standard deviation) is reported for three sites. Total body: 1.03 (+/- 0.12) in women, 1.21 (+/- 0.11) in men. Spine: 1.05 (+/- 0.24) in women, 1.22 (+/- 0.26) in men. Total hip: 0.85 (+/- 0.15) in women, 1.04 (+/- 0.17) in men. Gender was significantly associated with BMD (t-test, p < 0.001). The R2 for tested variables were highly significant only for weight. Age was only significant for total hip in women (p < 0.05). Each kilogram of weight change was associated with a 5.3-6.8 mg/cm2 change in BMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a population-based cohort of older African Americans, average BMD was significantly greater in men than women. Weight accounted for most of the explained variability (R2) in BMD; age added little to the overall R2. Lower-weight, older African-American men and women are at significantly increased risk for low BMD and, thus, likely to be at greater risk for osteoporotic fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA. jarobbins@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Calvin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cauley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors