Prevalence and factors of T-score discordance between hip and spine among middle-aged and elderly Malaysians

Associations of global biomarkers of oxidative stress with osteoporosis, bone microstructure and bone turnover: Evidence from human and animal studies

PURPOSE

Human evidence on the association between oxidative stress and osteoporosis is inconsistent. Fluorescent Oxidation Products (FlOPs) are global biomarkers of oxidative stress. We examined the associations of FlOPs (excitation/emission wavelengths 320/420 nm for FlOP_320, 360/420 nm for FlOP_360, and 400/475 nm for FlOP_400) with osteoporosis, bone microstructure, and bone turnover markers in humans and rats.

METHODS

In humans, we conducted a 1:2 age, sex, hospital, and specimen-matched case-control study to test the association between FlOPs and osteoporosis diagnosed from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In eight-week-old male Wistar rats, we administrated D-galactose and 0.9 % saline for 90 days in treatment and control groups (n = 8/group); micro-CT was used to determine bone microstructure.

RESULTS

In humans, higher levels of FlOP_320 (OR for per 1 SD increase = 1.49, 95 % CI: 1.01-2.20) and FlOP_360 (OR for per 1 SD increase = 1.59, 95 % CI: 1.07-2.37) were associated with increased odds of osteoporosis. FlOP_400 were not associated with osteoporosis. D-galactose treated rats, as compared with control rats, showed higher levels of FlOP_320 and MDA, and lower P1NP levels during 90 days of experiment (all P < 0.05). The D-galactose group had lower trabecular bone volume fraction (0.07 ± 0.03 vs. 0.13 ± 0.05; P = 0.008) and volumetric BMD (225.4 ± 13.8 vs. 279.1 ± 33.2 mg HA/cm3; P = 0.001) than the control group.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, higher FlOP_320 levels were associated with increased odds of osteoporosis, impaired bone microstructure and decreased bone formation.

Increased bone resorption that outpaces increased bone formation: An important pathology of rapidly destructive coxarthrosis

Rapid joint destruction caused by rapidly destructive coxarthrosis (RDC) can increase surgical complexity and intraoperative blood loss. This single-center retrospective study investigates osteoporosis-related biomarkers for early RDC diagnosis and explores new treatment targets. We included 398 hip joints from patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, examining medical records for preoperative patient demographics, bone mineral density of the hip and lumbar spine from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, and osteoporosis-related biomarkers including TRACP-5b, total P1NP, intact parathyroid hormone, and homocysteine. We compared RDC and osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and univariate analysis showed that RDC patients were older (p < 0.001) and had lower serum levels of albumin (p < 0.001) and higher serum levels of TRACP-5b, total P1NP (p < 0.001), and homocysteine (p = 0.006). Multivariable analysis showed that the ratio of serum TRACP-5b to total P1NP had a more significant difference in RDC patients than in OA patients (p = 0.04). Serum TRACP-5b levels were negatively correlated with the time between RDC onset and blood collection, and Japanese Orthopedic Association pain score. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the ratio of serum TRACP-5b to total P1NP had the highest area under the curve value. This study is the first to demonstrate that the ratio of serum TRACP-5b to total P1NP-increased bone resorption that outpaces increased bone formation-is significantly elevated in patients with RDC and that TRACP-5b is higher in the early stages of RDC. Inhibiting serum levels of TRACP-5b, activated osteoclasts, during early RDC may suppress disease progression.

T-score discordance between hip and lumbar spine: risk factors and clinical implications

Background

T-score discordance is common in osteoporosis diagnosis and leads to problems for clinicians formulating treatment plans.

Objectives

This study investigated the potential predictors of T-score discordance and compared fracture risk among individuals with varying T-score discordance status.

Design

This was a single-center cross-sectional study conducted at Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei City, between 1 February 2020 and 31 January 2022.

Methods

The present study enrolled patients aged ⩾50 years who received advanced bone health examination. Participants with a history of fracture surgery or underlying musculoskeletal diseases were excluded. Bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were used to determine the body composition and T-score, respectively. Discordance was defined as different T-score categories between the lumbar spine and hip. The impact of discordance on an individual's fracture risk was assessed using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX).

Results

This study enrolled 1402 participants (181 men and 1221 women). Of the 912 participants diagnosed with osteoporosis, 47 (5%) and 364 (40%) were categorized as having major and minor discordance, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that decreased walking speed was significantly correlated with major discordance but not osteoporosis in both the hip and lumbar spine (odds ratio of 0.25, p = 0.04). The adjusted FRAX scores for the major osteoporotic fracture risks of the major and minor discordance groups were approximately 14%, which was significantly lower than that of people having osteoporosis in both the hip and lumbar spine.

Conclusions

Walking speed exhibited the most significant correlation with major discordance in patients with osteoporosis. Although adjusted major fracture risks were similar between the major and minor discordance groups, further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Registrations

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Taipei Medical University on 01/04/2022 (TMU-JIRB N202203088).

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Discordance Between Hip and Spinal Bone Mineral Density Among Saudi Subjects

Background

Discordance between hip and spine on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is a well-known problem in diagnosing osteoporosis. The prevalence and risk factors of this problem have not been studied in the Saudi population. The objective of this study was to document this discordance in our population and its possible risk factors.

Materials and methods

We analyzed data obtained from subjects who had dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) between January 2021 and December 2021 at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Subjects with the following conditions were excluded: secondary osteoporosis, patients taking anti-osteoporotic agents, patients on steroids or hormonal replacement therapy, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, and chronic renal disease. A total of 1388 patients satisfied our inclusion criteria. World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for diagnosis were implemented. Major discordance was defined as osteoporosis in one site and normal in the other. Minor discordance was defined as a difference of no more than one World Health Organization diagnostic class between two sites. Bivariate statistical analysis was achieved using appropriate statistical tests (chi-square, student’s t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation), based on the type of study and outcome variables. A p-value of < 0.05 and 95% CI were used to report the statistical significance and precision of results.

Results

A total of 1388 subjects were analyzed, of which, 1196 (86%) were females with a mean age of 58.8 (13.8 SD) and 192 were males with a mean age of 58 (18.0 SD). Lumbar osteoporosis was found in 312 (22.5%) participants while hip osteoporosis was reported in 73 (5.3%) of the participants. Major discordance was documented in 85 (6.1%) of all participants (6.3% of the male and 6.1% of the female patients). All of these subjects had lumbar spine osteoporosis with normal hip bone mineral density (BMD). Minor discordance was found in 591 patients (42.6%). Obesity (BMI > 30) was found to be a risk factor for both major (2.10-11.6, 95% CI) and minor (2.5-11.4, 95% CI) discordance.

Conclusion

Discordance between hip and spine BMD is common among Saudi subjects. Lumbar spine osteoporosis with normal hip BMD caused this discordance in our subjects. Obesity could be responsible for the occurrence of this discordance. Mechanisms may include higher rate of turnover in spine, technical artifacts in the measurements of lumbar spine BMD, or due to the effects of weight loading. Caution should be exercised when interpreting DXA results, especially in obese subjects.

Effect of a Screening and Education Programme on Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices Regarding Osteoporosis among Malaysians

Background: Osteoporosis is an emerging geriatric condition with high morbidity and healthcare cost in developing nations experiencing rapid population ageing. Thus, identifying strategies to prevent osteoporosis is critical in safeguarding skeletal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a bone health screening and education programme on knowledge, beliefs, and practice regarding osteoporosis among Malaysians aged 40 years and above. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from April 2018 to August 2019. During the first phase of the study, 400 Malaysians (190 men, 210 women) aged ≥ 40 years were recruited in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Information on subjects’ demography, medical history, knowledge, and beliefs regarding osteoporosis, physical activity status, and dietary and lifestyle practices were obtained. Subjects also underwent body anthropometry measurement and bone mineral density scan (hip and lumbar spine) using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. Six months after the first screening, similar investigations were carried out on the subjects. Results: During the follow-up session, 72 subjects were lost to follow up. Most of them were younger subjects with a lower awareness of healthy practices. A significant increase in knowledge, beliefs (p < 0.05), calcium supplement intake (p < 0.001), and dietary calcium intake (p = 0.036) and a reduction in coffee intake (p < 0.001) were found among subjects who attended the follow-up. In this study, the percentage of successful referrals was 41.86%. Subjects with osteoporosis were mostly prescribed alendronate plus vitamin D3 by medical doctors, and they followed the prescribed treatment accordingly. Conclusions: The bone health screening and education programmes in this study are effective in changing knowledge, beliefs, and practice regarding osteoporosis. The information is pertinent to policymakers in planning strategies to prevent osteoporosis and its associated problems among the middle-aged and elderly population in Malaysia. Nevertheless, a more comprehensive bone health education program that includes long-term monitoring and consultation is needed to halt the progression of bone loss.

Prevalence, Clinical Implication, and Cause of Spine Hip Discordance in Elderly Patients with Fragility Hip Fracture

Background

Spine-hip discordance (SHD) increases fracture risk. However, its prevalence and clinical implications have not been investigated in patients with hip fractures. This study determined the prevalence and association of SHD with mortality and investigated the cause of SHD in patients with hip fractures.

Methods

This study included patients admitted for fragility hip fractures between 2011 and 2020. All patients underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and anteroposterior and lateral views of the lumbosacral spine during admission. Data on demographics, diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and mortality were collected. A T-score difference of more than 1.5 between L1–4 and the femur neck was considered discordant, and 3 groups (lumbar low [LL] discordance, no discordance [ND], and femur neck low [FL] discordance) were compared. In the discordance group, lumbar radiographs were reviewed to determine the cause of discordance.

Results

Among 1,220 eligible patients, 130 were excluded due to patient refusal or bilateral hip implantation; therefore, this study included 1,090 patients (271 male and 819 female). The prevalence of LL, ND, and FL was 4.4%, 66.4% and 29.2% in men and 3.9%, 76.1%, and 20.0% women. Mortality was not associated with discordance. The most common causes of discordance were physiological in the LL group and pathological in the FL group for both sexes.

Conclusions

Patients with hip fractures showed lower rates of ND and higher rates of FL compared to the general population. True discordance should be carefully judged for pathological and artifact reasons. The clinical implications of SHD require further investigation.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of T-Score Spine-Hip Discordance in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture

Background: T-score discordance between the spine and hip is commonly observed when dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is used to diagnose osteoporosis. However, information is scarce regarding the prevalence and risk factors for this problem in Korea. This study evaluated the prevalence of major/minor discordance and associated risk factors in elderly Korean patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).Methods: This study included 200 patients (37 men, 163 women) treated for thoracic or lumbar compression fractures between January 2015 and August 2021. DXA was performed to examine T‐scores and determine the prevalence of discordance, defined as a difference between the T-score categories of the femur and spine in the same individual. The t-tests, χ2 tests, and regression analyses were used to assess the associated risk factors of T-score discordance among the subjects.Results: T-score concordance, minor discordance, and major discordance were observed in 137 (68.5%), 59 (29.5%), and 4 (2%) patients with OVCFs, respectively. The spinal T-score was lower than the femoral T-score in all major discordance and 81.3% (48/59) of minor discordant cases. Overall, the only factor related to T-score discordance was the age at fracture (odds ratio, -0.01; P=0.014).Conclusions: The results of this study showed that a significant number of subjects (31.5%) showed spine-hip discordance, even with a mean age in their 80s. More attention should be paid to the appropriate evaluation and management of elderly patients with OVCFs. Moreover, a longitudinal study is necessary to verify the clinical importance of T-score discordance in this population.

Comparative Analysis of T-score Discordance between a Registry-Based Korean Population and Atypical Femoral Fracture Patients of a Single Institution

Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of T-score discordance between the spine and femur in the South Korean population and compare the prevalence of T-score discordance between the Korean osteoporosis population and atypical femoral fracture (AFF) patients.

Methods

A total of 12,422 subjects from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were reviewed retrospectively. T-score discordance was defined as a difference of ≥ 1 standard deviation between the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD). The prevalence of T-score discordance (low LS [LS BMD < FN BMD], low FN [LS BMD > FN BMD], and total [low LS + low FN]) was investigated in the osteoporosis and non-osteoporosis groups and stratified by sex and age. T-score discordance of 63 patients with AFFs diagnosed at a single institution was compared with that of the Korean osteoporosis population using propensity score matching.

Results

T-score discordance was prevalent in the Korean osteoporosis population (44.8%), and low LS discordance (37.5%) was more frequently seen than low FN discordance (7.2%) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of total and low LS discordance was significantly higher in AFF patients than in the Korean osteoporosis population (total discordance: 69.8% and 42.5%, respectively; low LS discordance: 63.5% and 31.7%, respectively; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

T-score discordance was highly prevalent in the Korean osteoporosis population, and low LS discordance was more common than low FN discordance. Nevertheless, the prevalence of low LS discordance was significantly higher in AFF patients than in the Korean osteoporosis population.

Particulate Air Pollution and Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review

Air pollution is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, which predispose to several chronic diseases in human. Emerging evidence suggests that the severity and progression of osteoporosis are directly associated with inflammation induced by air pollutants like particulate matter (PM). This systematic review examined the relationship between PM and bone health or fractures. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January until February 2021 using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library databases. Human cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies were considered. Of the 1500 papers identified, 14 articles were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The air pollution index investigated by most studies were PM2.5 and PM10. Current studies demonstrated inconsistent associations between PM and osteoporosis risk or fractures, which may partly due to the heterogeneity in subjects' characteristics, study design and analysis. In conclusion, there is an inconclusive relationship between osteoporosis risk and fracture and PM exposures which require further validation.