Geometry of the proximal femur in relation to age and sex: a cross-sectional study in healthy adult Danes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the natural variation in hip geometry in relation to Danish population characteristics, and to establish normal reference values.


METHODS
We included 249 healthy individuals (94 M and 155 F, aged 19-79 years) and measured hip-axis-length (HAL), neck-width (NW), neck-shaft-angle (NSA), and femoral head-radius (HR) on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screen images.


RESULTS
HAL, NW, HR, and NSA were higher in men than in women (10.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.6 cm (P<0.001), 3.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.3 cm (P<0.01), 2.5 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.2 cm (P< 0.001), and 131 +/- 5 vs. 129 +/- 5 degrees (P< 0.01). NSA was higher in post-menopausal than in pre-menopausal women (130 +/- 4 vs. 128 +/- 5 degrees (P<0.001)). In multiple regression analysis, HAL, NW, and HR were positively related to body height in both sexes (R = 0.20 to 0.63, P<0.05 to P<0.001). In females, NSA was positively related to body height (R = 0.20, P<0.05) and negatively to body weight (R = -0.30, P<0.01). NW increased with age in men (R = 0.34, P<0.01) but not in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Hip dimensions differ between genders in the Danish population. HAL, NW, and HR depend on body height. Finally, NW increases with age in men but not in women.
Nissen
N
N
Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. hra@dadlnet.dk
Hauge
E M
EM
Abrahamsen
B
B
Jensen
J E B
JE
Mosekilde
L
L
Brixen
K
K
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors