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Skeletal Microstructure in Caribbean Hispanic Women.
Sanchita Agarwal1, Carmen Germosen1, Mariana Bucovsky1
1Division of Endocrinology Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York NY USA.
JBMR Plus
|May 17, 2023
Summary
Elderly Hispanic women show lower bone mineral density (BMD) and worse bone microarchitecture compared to non-Hispanic Black women, impacting fracture risk. Skeletal health differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women were less pronounced.
Area of Science:
- Bone and Mineral Metabolism
- Skeletal Biology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Hispanic individuals are underrepresented in skeletal research, with conflicting bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture data.
- Understanding skeletal health disparities is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate skeletal health differences in elderly Caribbean Hispanic (HW), non-Hispanic White (NHW), and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women.
- To compare BMD, bone microarchitecture, and bone strength across these ethnic groups.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study in New York City involving 442 women.
- Utilized high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HRpQCT), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and finite element analysis (FEA).
- Compared HW to NHW and NHB women after adjusting for relevant factors.
Main Results:
- HW women had lower spine areal BMD (aBMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) compared to NHW women, with no difference in vertebral fracture frequency.
- Compared to NHB women, HW women exhibited lower aBMD, poorer radial and tibial microstructure, and reduced bone strength (failure load).
- HRpQCT revealed distinct cortical and trabecular bone characteristics between groups, with HW women showing some cortical advantages over NHW but disadvantages compared to NHB.
Conclusions:
- Elderly Hispanic women have lower spine aBMD and TBS compared to NHW women, but microstructural differences at the radius and tibia were not associated with reduced bone strength.
- In contrast, HW women demonstrated significantly lower aBMD, deteriorated bone microarchitecture, and reduced bone strength compared to NHB women.
- These findings highlight ethnic disparities in skeletal health and can inform improved osteoporosis screening and treatment strategies for Hispanic women.
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