An Updated Reference for Calculating Bone Mineral Density T-Scores
Abstract
CONTEXT: Bone mineral density (BMD) T-score references may be updated when the peak BMD of the population is unclear and warrants reevaluation.
OBJECTIVE: To update BMD T-score references using the peak BMD from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used NHANES data from 2005 to 2014. Non-Hispanic White females between the ages of 10 and 40 years (N = 1549) were our target population to estimate peak BMD (SD). Individuals aged ≥ 50 years (N = 5523) were used to compare the percentages of osteoporosis and low bone mass based on existing and updated BMD T-score references. BMD data within the age at attainment of peak BMD ± 5 years were used to calculate updated BMD T-score references.
RESULTS: The updated average of BMD (SD) for diagnosing osteoporosis at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were 0.888 g/cm2 (0.121 g/cm2) and 1.065 g/cm2 (0.122 g/cm2), respectively. The percentages of individuals with osteoporosis at the femoral neck and low bone mass at the femoral neck and lumbar spine based on the updated BMD T-score references were higher than the percentages of people designated with these outcomes under the existing guidelines (P < 0.001). However, we observed the opposite pattern for lumbar spine osteoporosis (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: We calculated new BMD T-score references at the femoral neck and lumbar spine. We found significant differences in the percentages of individuals classified as…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 5,523 participants or records.
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