Study of bone mineral density in resident doctors working at a teaching hospital.
BACKGROUND
The erratic lifestyle of resident doctors may affect their serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)D] levels and bone mineral density (BMD).


OBJECTIVE
To study BMD and the effect of environmental factors on it in resident doctors.


METHODS
Prospective, cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary healthcare centre.


METHODS
BMD was obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and was correlated with various factors including weight, height, body mass index (BMI), sun exposure, physical activity, parathyroid hormone, 25-(OH)D, dietary factors. Statistical Analysis : SPSS software Version 10 (Unpaired t test was used to compare BMD of different groups and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to calculate correlation).


RESULTS
Two hundred and fourteen apparently healthy resident doctors were enrolled in the study. Based on Caucasian normative data, osteopenia was noted in 104 (59.7%) males and 27 (67.5%) females. Thirty-two (18.39%) males and five (12.5%) females had osteoporosis. The BMD values of males were 0.947+/-0.086, 0.911+/-0.129 and 1.016+/-0.133 at lumbar spine, femur neck and total hip while those in females were 0.981+/-0.092, 0.850+/-0.101 and 0.957+/-0.103 respectively. BMD of our cohort was lesser by 12.5-18.2% and 4.2-14.5% than the Caucasian and available Indian figures, respectively. BMD had significant positive correlation with weight, height, BMI, physical activity, and dietary calcium phosphorus ratio. 25-(OH)D levels were insufficient in 175 (87.5%) subjects but had no correlation with BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Young healthy resident doctors had significantly lower BMD, contributors being lower BMI, lower height, reduced bioavailability of dietary calcium and inadequate physical activity. Deficiency of vitamin D did not contribute to low BMD.
Multani
S K
SK
Department of Endocrinology, KEM Hospital, Seth G. S. Medical College, Parel, Mumbai-400 012, India.
Sarathi
V
V
Shivane
V
V
Bandgar
T R
TR
Menon
P S
PS
Shah
N S
NS
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium