BMI and low bone mass in an elderly male nursing home population.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about osteoporosis in institutionalized older adults. Risk factors such as low body mass index (BMI) have been investigated in female populations, but remain understudied in men. The objective of this study was to examine characteristics of older men residing in a nursing home who received bone mineral density evaluations.


METHODS
57 male Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) nursing home residents were screened for osteoporosis using a peripheral dual X-ray (pDXA) technique. T-scores were categorized into three groups: normal (0 > -1); osteopenic (-1 to -2.49); osteoporotic (< -2.5).


RESULTS
Average age was 76.2 years (standard deviation = 11.5; range: 48-100). T-scores indicated that 37.3% of the population was normal, 35.6% osteopenic, and 27.1% osteoporotic. 35.6% of patients had normal BMIs, 3.4% were underweight, 47.5% were overweight, and 13.6% were considered obese. There was a high prevalence of overweight and obese individuals (61.1%) in the osteopenic and osteoporotic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
As expected, there was a high prevalence of low bone mass in our population (62%). However, overweight and obese men were more likely to have osteoporosis and osteopenia, contrary to literature and clinical knowledge. This finding may be partially explained by the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and relative lack of weight-bearing activity in this group of men.
Paniagua
Miguel A
MA
VA Medical Center GRECC, Miami, FL 33125, USA. m.paniagua@miami.edu
Malphurs
Julie E
JE
Samos
Luis F
LF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005431:Florida; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis