Spine fracture prevalence in a nationally representative sample of US women and men aged ≥40 years: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014.
Spine fracture prevalence is similar in men and women, increasing from <5 % in those <60 to 11 % in those 70-79 and 18 % in those ≥80 years. Prevalence was higher with age, lower bone mineral density (BMD), and in those meeting criteria for spine imaging. Most subjects with spine fractures were unaware of them.



Spine fractures have substantial medical significance but are seldom recognized. This study collected contemporary nationally representative spine fracture prevalence data.



Cross-sectional analysis of 3330 US adults aged ≥40 years participating in NHANES 2013-2014 with evaluable Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA). VFA was graded by semiquantitative measurement. BMD and an osteoporosis questionnaire were collected.



Overall spine fracture prevalence was 5.4 % and similar in men and women. Prevalence increased with age from <5 % in those <60 to 11 % in those 70-79 and 18 % in those ≥80 years. Fractures were more common in non-Hispanic whites and in people with lower body mass index and BMD. Among subjects with spine fracture, 26 % met BMD criteria for osteoporosis. Prevalence was higher in subjects who met National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) criteria for spine imaging (14 vs 4.7 %, P < 0.001). Only 8 % of people with a spine fracture diagnosed by VFA had a self-reported fracture, and among those who self-reported a spine fracture, only 21 % were diagnosed with fracture by VFA.



Spine fracture prevalence is similar in women and men and increases with age and lower BMD, although most subjects with spine fracture do not meet BMD criteria for osteoporosis. Since most (>90 %) individuals were unaware of their spine fractures, lateral spine imaging is needed to identify these women and men. Spine fracture prevalence was threefold higher in individuals meeting NOF criteria for spine imaging (∼1 in 7 undergoing VFA). Identifying spine fractures as part of comprehensive risk assessment may improve clinical decision making.
Regional Bone Center, Helen Hayes Hospital, Route 9W, West Haverstraw, NY, 10993, USA. felcosman@gmail.com.|Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. felcosman@gmail.com.
F
F
Cosman
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
J H
JH
Krege
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD, USA.
A C
AC
Looker
HealthPartners Institute and Park Nicollet Clinic, HealthPartners, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
J T
JT
Schousboe
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
B
B
Fan
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD, USA.
N
N
Sarafrazi Isfahani
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
J A
JA
Shepherd
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
K D
KD
Krohn
Parexel International, Waltham, MA, USA.
P
P
Steiger
Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
K E
KE
Wilson
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
H K
HK
Genant
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Osteoporosis; Prevalence; Screening; Spine fracture; Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA)