Could point-of-care bioimpedance analysis be another tool in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures?

A treatment gap exists in osteoporosis, with people at risk of fracture often not identified. Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry is the gold standard technique for the identification of low bone mass, but it is not always easily accessible. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive, safe and portable technology, which can provide a calculated estimate of bone mass. However, the validity of using BIA in the assessment of bone health is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to examine BIA-derived bone mass (BBM) data from a local population, with the aim of exploring its potential for use as a preliminary osteoporosis screening tool. A convenience sample of 124 participants (40 males, 84 females) was recruited from the local population. BIA was performed on participants according to standard procedures. BBM data was analysed in relation to weight, height, sex, age and BMI. Data was analysed using ANOVA, hierarchial regression, and bivariate correlation as appropriate. Weight was strongly associated with BBM (R² = 0.637, p < 0.001), providing the greatest contribution to variance, of the factors examined. BBM was also positively associated with height, in a model that included weight (ΔR² = 0.218, p < 0.001). Females had a significantly lower bone mass than males, independent of weight and height (ΔR² = 0.055, p < 0.001). There was a small negative association of BBM with age, in a model that included weight and sex (ΔR² = 0.011; p = 0.002). A positive correlation between BMI and BBM was found in both males (r _s (3₈) = 0.482, p = 0.002), and females (r _s (82) = 0.565, p < 0.001). The finding that BBM values are associated with factors known to be relevant to fracture risk, provides a rationale to perform further studies to investigate if BBM values could have validity for point-of-care assessment of bone health.