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Published on: January 29, 2018
Bone mineral density patterns in vitamin D deficient African American men with sickle cell disease
Patricia Adams-Graves1, Alden B Daniels, Catherine R Womack
1Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine (PA-G), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Biological Sciences (ABD), College of Arts and Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee; and Department of Medicine (CRW) and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine (AXF), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
Insights
Many adult African American men with sickle cell disease (SCD) and vitamin D deficiency (Vit DD) experience low bone mineral density (BMD), including osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Area of Science:
- Bone metabolism and densitometry
- Hematology and genetic disorders
- Endocrinology and nutritional deficiencies
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder affecting red blood cells.
- Vitamin D deficiency (Vit DD) is common and can impact bone health.
- African American (AA) men with SCD may be at increased risk for bone density issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess bone mineral density (BMD) patterns in adult African American men with SCD and Vit DD.
- To identify the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in this specific population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 78 adult African American men with SCD and Vit DD.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) assessed using densitometry, with T-scores at the lumbar spine.
- Exclusion of individuals with chronic renal failure or hyperparathyroidism.
Main Results:
- 42% of participants exhibited low BMD (osteopenia or osteoporosis).
- The prevalence of osteoporosis was 14% in the study group.
- Data collected included demographics, BMI, SCD genotype, and various biochemical markers.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of adult African American men with SCD and Vit DD present with low bone mineral density.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring bone health in this patient population.
Objective:
To describe bone mineral density (BMD) patterns by densitometry in adult African American (AA) men with sickle cell disease (SCD) who are vitamin D deficient (Vit DD).
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:
All SCD phenotypes were eligible. Those with chronic renal failure or hyperparathyroidism were excluded.
Data Collection:
Demographics, body mass index and SCD genotype.
Laboratory:
Albumin, ferritin, calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxy vitamin D and intact-parathyroid hormone were obtained. BMD, T and Z scores: T scores at the lumbar spine were used to categorize normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis based on World Health Organization criteria.
Statistical Analyses:
Mean ± standard deviation was used to describe continuous data, whereas categorical data were described by counts and percentages. The χ test was used to analyze categorical variables; Student's t test or one-way analysis of variance, when appropriate, was used to compare continuous variables. Rates of osteopenia-osteoporosis were determined, and the parameter with 95% confidence interval (CI) of a proportion was constructed. All tests were 2-sided, and a P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We used StatView Version 5.01 (SAS institute Inc, Cary, NC) for the statistical analysis.
Results:
Seventy-eight AA men with SCD disease and Vit DD were enrolled in this study. We found that 42% of the men studied had low-BMD (osteopenia or osteoporosis) using T scores at the lumbar spine to establish densitometry strata. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 14%.
Conclusions:
A large proportion of adult AA men with SCD and Vit DD showed low BMD.
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