Assessment of peak bone mineral density and its associated factors in Vietnamese adults: A cross-sectional study

Osteoporosis is a growing public health concern in Vietnam, yet population-specific reference data for peak bone mineral density (PBD) remain limited. This study aimed to establish a standard PBD dataset and identify factors associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in Vietnamese adults.

A cross-sectional study included 1,378 participants (410 men, 968 women) in Hue City, Vietnam. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and total hip (TH) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A cubic polynomial regression models were performed to identify peak bone density (PBD). Age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis was calculated using the 2024 Vietnamese population structure.

Men exhibited higher BMD than women across all skeletal sites. The estimated age of PBD attainment was 20-29 years in men and approximately 30 years in women. Age was the strongest negative predictor of BMD, while body weight and height showed positive correlations. The age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis was highest at the LS (33.58%), followed by the TH (12.77%) and FN (2.69%). Women showed a markedly higher prevalence than men, with a sharp increase observed after menopause.

This study provides an updated reference dataset for PBD in the Vietnamese population, notably revealing that men attain peak bone density earlier than women. Furthermore, the findings underscore the high prevalence of osteoporosis at the lumbar spine, suggesting a need for early screening strategies targeting high-risk groups.