Bone mineral density and its related factors in elderly male Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

There have been few investigations conducted on the epidemiology and risk factors of osteoporosis in patients with diabetes in China. The aim of this study was to disclose the percentage and the possible risk factors that influence bone mineral density (BMD) in this population.

One hundred thirty-one elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes (73.12 +/- 5.54 years of age, diabetic duration 5.28 +/- 3.56 years, HbA(1C) 7.87% +/- 1.82 %), >65 years of age were recruited. All subjects were submitted to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate the BMD at lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and femoral trochanter (FT). Fasting blood samples were taken to check hormones and biochemical levels. Demographic data were also collected.

In the different bone sites studied, the percentage of osteoporosis and osteopenia varied in this group of patients ranging from 29.0 to 31.3% and 29.0 to 33.6%, respectively. Weight, HbA(1C), body mass index, and testosterone were correlated with BMD at all the bone sites studied. Weight was the best predictor among the above parameters for BMD by linear regression analysis at LS and FN, whereas testosterone was the best predictor for BMD at FT.

In the different bone sites studied, the percentage of osteoporosis and osteopenia varied ranging from 29.0 to 31.3% and 29.0 to 33.6%, respectively. Weight was the best predictor for BMD at LS and FN and testosterone was the best predictor for BMD at FT. Poor glycemic control was correlated with osteoporosis.