Bone mineral density is a predictor of survival

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Bone Health

Background:

• Bone mineral density (BMD) is a key indicator of bone health.
• Established risk factors for mortality include blood pressure and cholesterol.
• The predictive value of BMD for all-cause mortality requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and survival in men and women.
• To compare the predictive power of BMD against traditional risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol for mortality.

Main Methods:

• A population-based prospective study involving 1924 participants (850 men, 1074 women) was conducted.
• Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) in the calcaneus.
• Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the relationship between BMD and non-trauma mortality over a 7-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Individuals in the lowest two quartiles of BMD exhibited significantly lower survival rates in both sexes (P=0.01).
• A decrease of 1 standard deviation in BMD was associated with a 1.39-fold increase in mortality (univariate analysis) and a relative risk of 1.23 in men and 1.19 in women (multivariate analysis).
• BMD proved to be a stronger predictor of mortality than blood pressure and cholesterol.

Conclusions:

• Bone mineral density (BMD) is an independent predictor of mortality, particularly in individuals over 70 years of age.
• Low bone mass may serve as a marker for general health status and functional aging.
• BMD measurement could be a valuable addition to general health assessments.