Relationship between radiographic features and bone mineral density in elderly men

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Radiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Lumbar disc degeneration is a common condition in elderly individuals, characterized by radiographic changes such as osteophytes, endplate sclerosis, and disc space narrowing.
• Understanding the relationship between these degenerative changes and bone mineral density (BMD) is crucial for assessing skeletal health in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between radiographic features of lumbar disc degeneration and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck in elderly men.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1000 men (aged 71-90 years) underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for BMD assessment at the spine and femoral neck.
• Radiographs were evaluated for anterior lumbar osteophytes, endplate sclerosis, and disc space narrowing using established grading systems.
• Pearson correlation tests were employed to analyze the relationships between radiographic features, lumbar BMD (LBMD), and femoral neck BMD (FNBMD).

Main Results:

• Radiographic evidence of lumbar disc degeneration was highly prevalent, with 90.6% showing anterior osteophytes, 87.5% endplate sclerosis, and 68.2% disc space narrowing.
• A significant positive correlation was observed between osteophyte grade, endplate sclerosis, and spinal BMD.
• Femoral neck BMD demonstrated a strong negative correlation with age, but no significant association with lumbar degenerative features.

Conclusions:

• Radiographic findings of lumbar disc degeneration, specifically anterior osteophytes and endplate sclerosis, are associated with increased spinal bone mineral density in elderly men.
• These findings suggest a complex interplay between degenerative disc disease and bone metabolism in the aging spine.