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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
Airflow limitation as a risk factor for low bone mineral density and hip fracture
Trine Herland1, Ellen M Apalset2,3, Geir Egil Eide3,4
1Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; trine@herland.nu.
Aim:
To investigate whether airflow limitation is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and risk of hip fractures.
Methods:
A community sample of 5,100 subjects 47-48 and 71-73 years old and living in Bergen was invited. Participants filled in questionnaires and performed a post-bronchodilator spirometry measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). All attendants were invited to have a BMD measurement of the hip. During 10 years of follow-up, information on death was collected from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry, and incident hip fractures were registered from regional hospital records of discharge diagnoses and surgical procedure codes.
Results:
The attendance rate was 69% (n=3,506). The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (FEV1/FVC<0.7) was 9%. In multiple logistic regression, the lowest quartile of BMD versus the three upper was significantly predicted by FEV1/FVC<0.7 and FEV1% predicted (odds ratio [OR]: 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 to 2.25, and OR per increase of 10%: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.99, respectively). Hip fracture occurred in 126 (4%) participants. In a Cox regression analysis, FEV1% predicted was associated with a lowered risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio per increase of 10%: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.997).
Conclusion:
Airflow limitation is positively associated with low BMD and risk of hip fracture in middle-aged and elderly.
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