Osteoporosis in men

Associations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 with bone quality in the general adult population

OBJECTIVE

Growth hormone (GH) and its main mediator, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), play a significant role in bone metabolism. The relations between IGF-I and bone mineral density (BMD) or osteoporosis have been assessed in previous studies but whether the associations are sex-specific remains uncertain. Moreover, only a few studies examined bone quality assessed by quantitative ultrasound (QUS). We aimed to investigate these associations in the general population of north-east Germany.

DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS

Data from 1759 men and 1784 women who participated in the baseline examination of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)-Trend were used. IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) concentrations were measured on the IDS-iSYS multidiscipline automated analyser (Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited). QUS measurements were performed at the heel (Achilles InSight, GE Healthcare). Sex-specific linear and multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were calculated.

RESULTS

Linear regression analyses revealed significant positive associations between IGF-I and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio, a marker for free IGF-I, with all QUS parameters in men. Among women, we found an inverse association between IGF-I and the QUS-based fracture risk but no association with any other QUS parameter. There was no association between IGFBP-3 and the QUS-based fracture risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest an important role of IGF-I on bone quality in men. The observed association of IGF-I with the QUS-based stiffness index and QUS-based fracture risk in this study might animate clinicians to refer patients with low IGF-I levels, particularly men, to a further evaluation of risk factors for osteoporosis and a detailed examination of the skeletal system.

The incidence rate of hip fracture in Shiraz, Iran during 2008-2010

This study aimed to estimate the incidence rate of hip fracture during 2008-2010 in Shiraz, Iran. Overall, the standardized age-related incidence were 329.6/100,000 in men and 1,589.7/100,000 in women. The incidence rate in females was remarkably higher than the previous studies in Iran.

PURPOSE

This study aims to determine the incidence rate of hip fracture and its possible changes during 2008-2010 in Shiraz, Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study reviewed and abstracted the hospital records, demographic, and clinical data of 1,923 patients aged 50 years or older with first time hip fracture admitted to private and public hospitals of Shiraz, Iran during 2008-2010 The age-adjusted incidence rate of hip fracture was determined along with association between gender, age, site of fracture, and socioeconomic status (SES) with the incidence rate.

RESULTS

The mean age of subjects was 74.7 years (±10.6 years). Age-adjusted incidence rates for hip fracture, standardized to the 2000 US white male and female populations were 329.57 and 1,589.71 per 10(5), respectively, while totally it was 461.1 per 10(5). The incidence rate of hip fracture in females was higher than that of males in their 60s (1,229.2 versus 793.3), 70s (4,130.3 versus 2,835.3), and early 80s (4,506.8 versus 3,820.5) per 100,000. The hip fracture incidence in high SES area (157.1 per 100,000) followed by low SES regions (152.5 per 100,000) were higher compared to middle SES area (38.1 per 100,000) and towns around Shiraz (27.7 per 100,000) with fracture of the neck of femur being the most frequent affliction (391 per 100,000).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of hip fracture is increasing in the area under study particularly in women and to a greater extent in those aged 60 years or older. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to primary and secondary prevention of hip fracture.

Prevalence of osteoporosis in Iran: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have investigated the prevalence of osteoporosis among general population in several parts of Iran. However, the results have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the overall prevalence of osteoporosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

International and national electronic databases were searched until April 2012, including Web of Knowledge, Medline, Scopus, Ovid, ScienceDirect, Science Information Database, IranMedex, MagIran, as well the relevant conference databases. The reference lists of included studies were screened as well. The cross-sectional studies addressing the prevalence of osteoporosis among Iranian general population were retrieved irrespective of age and sex. Bone mineral density (BMD) based on T-score was classified as follows: (a) normal (T-score ≥-1); (b) osteopenia (-2.5SD < T-score <-1SD); (c) osteoporosis (T-score ≤-2.5). Study quality was assessed using the recommended checklist of STROBE.

RESULTS

Of 2598 retrieved studies, 31 studies comprising 34,814 people was used for meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in lumbar spine was 0.17 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.20) and that of osteopenia was 0.35 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.39). The prevalence was higher in older age groups, in women, and in the northern regions of the country, with an increasing trend in recent years.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicated that osteoporosis and osteopenia are common problems among Iranian population older than 30 years. Furthermore, increasing trend of the diseases in recent years is promising a critical public health problem in Iran in the near future. However, due to the heterogeneity between the studies' results, further evidence based on a national survey is needed to estimate the exact prevalence of the diseases in the country.

MALE OSTEOPOROSIS

Population aging is a reality that is being faced worldwide, and Brazil is no different. Osteoporosis was considered to be a postmenopausal women's disease for many years. Men have many development and hormonal factors that differentiate their skeletal maturation, which affects the incidence of osteoporosis and fractures. An up-to-date review of the specific literature within the Medline system is presented.

Bone mineral status and bone loss over time in men with chronic systolic heart failure and their clinical and hormonal determinants

AIMS

Bone status has not been comprehensively studied in chronic heart failure (CHF). In CHF men, we evaluated bone status, bone loss over time, and their clinical and hormonal determinants.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of arms, legs, trunk, and total body were examined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 187 men with CHF [age: 60+/-11 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 32+/-7%, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (I/II/III/IV): 20/76/76/15] and in 21 age-matched male controls without CHF. Men with CHF had reduced BMD and BMC compared with controls (P < 0.05). Reduced BMD and BMC were independently determined by CHF severity (high NYHA class and impaired LVEF), reduced lean tissue mass, low serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, total testosterone (TT), and estimated free testosterone (eFT) (all P < 0.05). Bone status was reassessed in 60 patients who survived >2 years from the initial evaluation. Significant bone loss over time (a reduction in BMC total > or = 1%/year) occurred in 35% of CHF men. Advanced NYHA class (P < 0.05) and reduced serum TT and eFT (P < 0.0001) at baseline predicted augmented bone loss.

CONCLUSION

In CHF men, reduced BMD and BMC constitute an element of generalized body wasting, determined mainly by advanced heart failure and androgen deficiencies. Significant bone loss over time frequently occurs in CHF men and is related to testosterone depletion and disease severity.

Effects of an osteoporosis educational programme for men

AIM

This paper reports an evaluation of the effects on knowledge, health beliefs and preventive behaviours of an osteoporosis educational programme for men.

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is an increasing global health concern, and educational programmes have been identified as a crucial strategy in its prevention. However, the effectiveness of osteoporosis educational programmes has mainly been evaluated in women.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was carried out to identify the effects of an osteoporosis educational programme for men. The study was conducted between September 2004 to February 2005, and 128 Hong Kong Chinese men were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group, with 64 in each group. The intervention group attended an osteoporosis educational programme. All participants completed pre- and post-test self-administered questionnaires: Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale and Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale.

RESULTS

The intervention group showed a statistically significant increase in both knowledge (P < 0.0005) and health beliefs (P = 0.007) about osteoporosis and preventive behaviours in comparison with the control group. However, the difference in self-efficacy between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.154).

CONCLUSIONS

An osteoporosis educational programme can increase men's knowledge levels and change their health beliefs about osteoporosis and preventive behaviours. This approach should be more widely used in nursing practice to promoting the adoption of osteoporosis prevention behaviours in men.

[Prolactinomas and bone mineral density in men]

Throughout the years evidence has been accumulated on the morbidity of hyperprolactinemia, particularly in terms of bone mineral density decrease. This complication of hyperprolactinemia affects both women and men. In this paper, we analyze aspects related to bone loss in men with hyperprolactinemia due to prolactinomas: prevalence, clinical relevance, physiopathology, diagnosis and the consequences of the treatment of hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadism on bone mineral density.

Prevalence of osteopenia in men with prolactinoma

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze bone mineral density (BMD) and prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in 30 men with prolactinoma, and compare them to 22 control subjects. BMD of lumbar spine and femur was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. PRL, testosterone, estradiol, sexual hormone-binding globulin and free androgen and estrogen indexes (FAI and FEI, respectively) were measured in all the subjects. In patients with prolactinoma, mean values of PRL and testosterone were calculated for the 12-month period that preceded the study. The mean T-score of the four sites analyzed by bone densitometry was lower in men with prolactinoma than in controls (p-values: lumbar spine=0.015, femoral neck <0.0001, trochanter=0.037, total femur=0.036), and 55.6% of the former presented osteopenia or osteoporosis at one or more sites (p =0.035). The lumbar spine was the most seriously affected site, where 29.6% had osteopenia and 14.8% had osteoporosis. By the time of BMD determination, significant associations were found between BMD and PRL, testosterone, FAI, estradiol, FEI, and duration of hypogonadism. Considering the period of 12 months that preceded BMD evaluation, trochanter BMD was associated with mean PRL levels, while there was an association between lumbar spine BMD and mean testosterone levels. However, the multiple regression analysis showed that estradiol was the main determinant of BMD. In conclusion, men with prolactinoma have high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Bone loss in such patients is associated with hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadism, and mainly influenced by estrogen.