Degenerative changes and trabecular bone score in patients with high bone mass by DXA

Area of Science:

• Bone densitometry and bone microarchitecture analysis.
• Clinical research in endocrinology and rheumatology.

Background:

• High bone mass (HBM) detected via DXA scans is common.
• Understanding bone health in HBM individuals is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) and osteoarthritis rates between HBM individuals and controls.
• To assess the utility of TBS in evaluating bone health in HBM patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of DXA scans from 2019-2024 in South Brazil.
• HBM defined as Z-score ≥ 2.5; controls matched for age, sex, BMI, and ethnicity.
• Assessment of osteoarthritis signs on DXA scans for both groups.

Main Results:

• 65 HBM individuals were identified and 63 paired with controls.
• No significant difference in L1-L4 TBS between HBM and control groups (p=0.246).
• Osteoarthritis prevalence was similar in both groups at lumbar and hip sites.

Conclusions:

• TBS appears suitable for bone health assessment in HBM patients.
• TBS does not differ significantly between HBM individuals and controls.
• Further studies are needed to clarify TBS's role in HBM fracture risk stratification.