Trends in the incidence of hip fracture in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain: 2007-2011 versus 1989-1993.

UNLABELLED: Hip fracture incidence in the Canaries was studied in two 5-year periods (1989-1993 and 2008-2011). The incidence in 2007-2011 was 24 % higher than in 1989, but did not differ between 2007-2011 and 1993. These findings suggest a trend to stabilize the incidence of hip fracture. INTRODUCTION: A dramatic increase in hip fractures between 1988 and 2002 was reported in Northern Spain. We performed the present study in Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands, to compare changes in the incidence of hip fracture between 1989-1993 and 2007-2011. METHODS: We recorded every osteoporotic hip fracture admitted to any hospital in Gran Canaria in the population 50 years of age or older. RESULTS: In 1989-1993, we collected 1175 hip fractures (72 % women; mean age 78.2 ± 9.9 years), and the total incidence rate was 152.1 cases/100,000 population/year. In 2007-2011, we collected 2222 hip fracture cases (71 % women; mean age 79 ± 9.8 years). The total incidence was 180.9/100,000/year. A Poisson model showed that the incidence of fractures increased by 7.1 % (95 % CI = 3.1 %; 11.8 %) each year in 1989-1993, while there was no statistically significant variation (p = 0.515) during the period 2007-2011. The incidence in 2007-2011 was 24 % higher than in 1989 (first year in the first period) but did not differ between 2007-2011 and 1993 (the last year of the first period). Incidence rates were 76.7 % (95 % CI = 63.9 %; 90.5 %) higher in women than in men, but the female/male ratio remained unchanged. The age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures increased by 7.3 % each year from 1989 to 1993. The proportions of trochanter and cervical fractures were similar in the two time periods, but the mean hospital stay was reduced from 11 days in 1989-1993 to 7 days in 2007-2011. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a trend to stabilize the incidence of hip fracture in the Canary Islands due to a decrease in men, while in women, the incidence increased.

Impact of femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD discordances on FRAX probabilities in women: a meta-analysis of international cohorts.

There are occasional marked discordances in BMD T-scores at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN). We investigated whether such discordances could contribute independently to fracture prediction using FRAX. We studied 21,158 women, average age 63 years, from 10 prospective cohorts with baseline FRAX variables as well as FN and LS BMD. Incident fractures were collected by self-report and/or radiographic reports. Extended Poisson regression examined the relationship between differences in LS and FN T-scores (ΔLS-FN) and fracture risk, adjusted for age, time since baseline and other factors including FRAX 10-year probability for major osteoporotic fracture calculated using FN BMD. To examine the effect of an adjustment for ΔLS-FN on reclassification, women were separated into risk categories by their FRAX major fracture probability. High risk was classified using two approaches: being above the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group intervention threshold or, separately, being in the highest third of each cohort. The absolute ΔLS-FN was greater than 2 SD for 2.5% of women and between 1 and 2 SD for 21%. ΔLS-FN was associated with a significant risk of fracture adjusted for baseline FRAX (HR per SD change = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.04-1.15). In reclassification analyses, only 2.3-3.2% of the women moved to a higher or lower risk category when using FRAX with ΔLS-FN compared with FN-derived FRAX alone. Adjustment of estimated fracture risk for a large LS/FN discrepancy (>2SD) impacts to a large extent on only a relatively small number of individuals. More moderate (1-2SD) discordances in FN and LS T-scores have a small impact on FRAX probabilities. This might still improve clinical decision-making, particularly in women with probabilities close to an intervention threshold.

Racial disparities in the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathies: a population-based study of 12,482 persons from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey.

Multiple myeloma (MM) incidence is markedly higher in blacks compared with whites, which may be related to a higher prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Our objective was to define the prevalence and risk factors of MGUS in a large cohort representative of the US population. Stored serum samples from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) III or NHANES 1999-2004 were available for 12,482 individuals of age ⩾50 years (2331 'blacks', 2475 Hispanics, 7051 'whites' and 625 'others') on which agarose-gel electrophoresis, serum protein immunofixation, serum-free light-chain assay and M-protein typing were performed. MGUS was identified in 365 participants (2.4%). Adjusted prevalence of MGUS was significantly higher (P<0.001) in blacks (3.7%) compared with whites (2.3%) (P=0.001) or Hispanics (1.8%), as were characteristics that posed a greater risk of progression to MM. The adjusted prevalence of MGUS was 3.1% and 2.1% for the North/Midwest versus South/West regions of the United States, respectively (P=0.052). MGUS is significantly more common in blacks, and more often has features associated with higher risk of progression to MM. A strong geographic disparity in the prevalence of MGUS between the North/Midwest versus the South/West regions of the United States was found, which has etiologic implications.

Fracture risk following bariatric surgery: a population-based study.

UNLABELLED: The effects of bariatric surgery on skeletal health are poorly understood. We found that bariatric surgery patients are more prone to fracture when compared to the general population. While further studies of fracture risk in this population are needed, bone health should be discussed in bariatric surgery clinics. INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery is an increasingly common treatment for medically complicated obesity. Adverse skeletal changes after bariatric surgery have been reported, but their clinical importance remains unknown. We hypothesized that bariatric surgery patients are at increased risk of fracture. METHODS: We conducted a historical cohort study of fracture incidence among 258 Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents who underwent a first bariatric surgery in 1985-2004. Relative fracture risk was expressed as standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), while potential risk factors were evaluated by hazard ratios (HR) obtained from a time-to-fracture regression model. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) body mass index at bariatric surgery was 49.0 ± 8.4 kg/m(2), with an average age of 44 ± 10 years and 82% (212) females. Gastric bypass surgery was performed in 94% of cases. Median follow-up was 7.7 years (range, 6 days to 25 years), during which 79 subjects experienced 132 fractures. Relative risk for any fracture was increased 2.3-fold (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8-2.8) and was elevated for a first fracture at the hip, spine, wrist, or humerus (SIR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9), as well as for a first fracture at any other site (SIR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2.0-3.2). Better preoperative activity status was associated with a lower age-adjusted risk (HR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.8) while prior fracture history was not associated with postoperative fracture risk. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery, which is accompanied by substantial biochemical, hormonal, and mechanical changes, is associated with an increased risk of fracture.

Cost-effectiveness of bone densitometry among Caucasian women and men without a prior fracture according to age and body weight.

UNLABELLED: We used a microsimulation model to estimate the threshold body weights at which screening bone densitometry is cost-effective. Among women aged 55-65 years and men aged 55-75 years without a prior fracture, body weight can be used to identify those for whom bone densitometry is cost-effective. INTRODUCTION: Bone densitometry may be more cost-effective for those with lower body weight since the prevalence of osteoporosis is higher for those with low body weight. Our purpose was to estimate weight thresholds below which bone densitometry is cost-effective for women and men without a prior clinical fracture at ages 55, 60, 65, 75, and 80 years. METHODS: We used a microsimulation model to estimate the costs and health benefits of bone densitometry and 5 years of fracture prevention therapy for those without prior fracture but with femoral neck osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5) and a 10-year hip fracture risk of ≥3%. Threshold pre-test probabilities of low BMD warranting drug therapy at which bone densitometry is cost-effective were calculated. Corresponding body weight thresholds were estimated using data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 2005-2006. RESULTS: Assuming a willingness to pay of $75,000 per quality adjusted life year (QALY) and drug cost of $500/year, body weight thresholds below which bone densitometry is cost-effective for those without a prior fracture were 74, 90, and 100 kg, respectively, for women aged 55, 65, and 80 years; and were 67, 101, and 108 kg, respectively, for men aged 55, 75, and 80 years. CONCLUSIONS: For women aged 55-65 years and men aged 55-75 years without a prior fracture, body weight can be used to select those for whom bone densitometry is cost-effective.

Suppression of uninvolved immunoglobulins defined by heavy/light chain pair suppression is a risk factor for progression of MGUS.

We hypothesized that the suppression of uninvolved immunoglobulin in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) as detected by suppression of the isotype-specific heavy and light chain (HLC-pair suppression) increases the risk of progression to malignancy. This approach required quantitation of individual heavy/light chains (for example, IgGλ in IgGκ MGUS patients). Of 1384 MGUS patients from Southeastern Minnesota seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1960 to 1994, baseline serum samples obtained within 30 days of diagnosis were available in 999 persons. We identified HLC-pair suppression in 27% of MGUS patient samples compared with 11% of patients with suppression of uninvolved IgG, IgA or IgM. HLC-pair suppression was a significant risk factor for progression (hazard ratio (HR), 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-3.7; P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, HLC-pair suppression was an independent risk factor for progression to malignancy in combination with serum M-spike size, heavy chain isotype and free light chain ratio (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.00; P=0.018). The finding that HLC-pair suppression predicts progression in MGUS and occurs several years before malignant transformation has implications for myeloma biology.

Long-term mortality following fractures at different skeletal sites: a population-based cohort study.

UNLABELLED: Adjusting for age, sex, and precipitating cause, the relative risk of death was increased following fractures at most skeletal sites. INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine long-term survival following fractures due to any cause at each skeletal site. METHODS: In a historical cohort study, 2,901 Olmsted County, MN, USA, residents ≥35 years old who experienced any fracture in 1989-1991 were followed passively for up to 22 years for death from any cause. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) compared observed to expected deaths. RESULTS: During 38,818 person-years of follow-up, 1,420 deaths were observed when 1,191 were expected (SMR, 1.2; 95 % CI, 1.1-1.3). The overall SMR was greatest soon after fracture, especially among the men, but remained elevated for over a decade thereafter. Adjusting for age and sex, relative death rates were greater for pathological fractures and less for severe trauma fractures compared to the fractures due to no more than moderate trauma. In the latter group, long-term mortality was increased following fractures at many skeletal sites. After further adjustment for precipitating cause, overall SMRs were elevated not only following fractures at the traditional major osteoporotic sites (i.e., distal forearm, proximal humerus, thoracic/lumbar vertebrae, and proximal femur) combined (SMR, 1.2; 95 % CI, 1.1-1.3) but also following all other fracture types combined (SMR 1.2; 95 % CI, 1.1-1.4), excluding the hand and foot fractures not associated with any increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of increased mortality long after the occurrence of a fracture has generally been attributed to underlying comorbidity, but this needs to be defined in much greater detail if specific opportunities are to be identified for reducing the excess deaths observed.

The potential impact of the National Osteoporosis Foundation guidance on treatment eligibility in the USA: an update in NHANES 2005-2008.

UNLABELLED: This analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2008 data describes the prevalence of risk factors for osteoporosis and the proportions of men and postmenopausal women age 50 years and older who are candidates for treatment to lower fracture risk, according to the new Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX)-based National Osteoporosis Foundation Clinician's Guide. INTRODUCTION: It is important to update estimates of the proportions of the older US population considered eligible for pharmacologic treatment for osteoporosis for purposes of understanding the health care burden of this disease. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of the NHANES 2005-2008 data in 3,608 men and women aged 50 years and older. Variables in the analysis included race/ethnicity, age, lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density, risk factor profiles, and FRAX 10-year fracture probabilities. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis of the femoral neck ranged from 6.0% in non-Hispanic black to 12.6% in Mexican American women. Spinal osteoporosis was more prevalent among Mexican American women (24.4%) than among either non-Hispanic blacks (5.3%) or non-Hispanic whites (10.9%). Treatment eligibility was similar in Mexican American and non-Hispanic white women (32.0% and 32.8%) and higher than it was in non-Hispanic black women (11.0%). Treatment eligibility among men was 21.1% in non-Hispanic whites, 12.6% in Mexican Americans, and 3.0% in non-Hispanic blacks. CONCLUSIONS: Nineteen percent of older men and 30% of older women in the USA are at sufficient risk for fracture to warrant consideration for pharmacotherapy.

Changes in femur neck bone density in US adults between 1988-1994 and 2005-2008: demographic patterns and possible determinants.

SUMMARY: This analysis compares femur neck bone mineral density (FNBMD) and bone determinants in adults between National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and NHANES 2005-2008. FNBMD was higher in NHANES 2005-2008 than in NHANES III, but between-survey differences varied by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. The likelihood that FNBMD has improved appears strongest for older white women. INTRODUCTION: Recent data on hip fracture incidence and femur neck osteoporosis suggest that the skeletal status of older US adults has improved since the 1990s, but the explanation for these changes remains uncertain. METHODS: The present study compares mean FNBMD of adults ages 20 years and older between the third (NHANES III, 1988-1994) and NHANES 2005-2008. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry systems (pencil beam in NHANES III, fan beam in NHANES 2005-2008) were used to measure hip BMD, and several bone determinants are compared between surveys to assess their potential role in explaining observed FNBMD differences. RESULTS: FNBMD was higher overall in NHANES 2005-2008 than in NHANES III, but between-survey differences varied by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Although FNBMD differences in several groups were small enough (≤3%) to be attributable to use of different dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems in the two surveys, variability in size and direction of the differences does not support artifactual differences in DXA methodology as the sole explanation. Several FNBMD determinants (body size, smoking, selected bone-active medications, self-reported health status, calcium intake, and caffeine consumption) changed in a bone-improving direction in older adults, but FNBMD in older non-Hispanic white women remained significantly higher in 2005-2008 even after adjusting for DXA methodology or for the selected bone determinants. CONCLUSION: The likelihood that FNBMD has improved appears strongest for older white women, but the reason for the improvement in this group remains unclear.

Trends in subtrochanteric, diaphyseal, and distal femur fractures, 1984-2007.

UNLABELLED: The incidence of non-hip femur fractures increased between 1984 and 2007, with an increase in the rates for women after 1996. INTRODUCTION: Recent reports have suggested that non-hip femur fractures may be decreasing over time, similar to proximal femur fractures. METHODS: Incidence rates for non-hip femur fractures among Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents were assessed before and after 1995 when the oral bisphosphonate, alendronate, was approved in the USA. RESULTS: From 1984 to 2007, 727 non-hip femur fractures were observed in 690 Olmsted County residents (51% female [median age, 71.6 years] and 49% male [21.4 years]). Altogether, 20% of the fractures were subtrochanteric, 51% were diaphyseal, and 29% involved the distal femur. Causes included severe trauma in 51%, minimal to moderate trauma in 34%, and pathologic causes in 15%. The overall age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of first non-hip femur fracture was 26.7 per 100,000 (25.0 per 100,000 for women and 26.6 per 100,000 for men). Incidence rates increased with age and were greater in women than men. Between 1984-1995 and 1996-2007, age-adjusted rates increased significantly for women (20.4 vs. 28.7 per 100,000; p = 0.002) but not for men (22.4 vs. 29.5 per 100,000; p = 0.202). CONCLUSION: The incidence of first non-hip femur fractures rose between 1984 and 2007, with an increase in the rates for women after 1995.

Relationship of femoral neck areal bone mineral density to volumetric bone mineral density, bone size, and femoral strength in men and women.

UNLABELLED: Using combined dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography, we demonstrate that men matched with women for femoral neck (FN) areal bone mineral density (aBMD) have lower volumetric BMD (vBMD), higher bone cross-sectional area, and relatively similar values for finite element (FE)-derived bone strength. INTRODUCTION: aBMD by DXA is widely used to identify patients at risk for osteoporotic fractures. aBMD is influenced by bone size (i.e., matched for vBMD, larger bones have higher aBMD), and increasing evidence indicates that absolute aBMD predicts a similar risk of fracture in men and women. Thus, we sought to define the relationships between FN aBMD (assessed by DXA) and vBMD, bone size, and FE-derived femoral strength obtained from quantitative computed tomography scans in men versus women. METHODS: We studied men and women aged 40 to 90 years and not on osteoporosis medications. RESULTS: In 114 men and 114 women matched for FN aBMD, FN total cross-sectional area was 38% higher (P < 0.0001) and vBMD was 16% lower (P < 0.0001) in the men. FE models constructed in a subset of 28 women and 28 men matched for FN aBMD showed relatively similar values for bone strength and the load-to-strength ratio in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of young and old men and women from Rochester, MN, USA who are matched by FN aBMD, because of the offsetting effects of bone size and vBMD, femoral strength and the load-to-strength ratio tended to be relatively similar across the sexes.

Lumbar spine bone mineral density in US adults: demographic patterns and relationship with femur neck skeletal status.

UNLABELLED: This analysis examines lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) of US adults from NHANES 2005-2008 by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Prevalence of low spine BMD and agreement between the prevalence of low BMD at the spine and femur neck in older adults are also assessed. INTRODUCTION: Lumbar spine BMD data from a representative sample of the US population have not been previously available. METHODS: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008 to examine demographic patterns in lumbar spine BMD among US adults age ≥20 years and the prevalence of low lumbar spine BMD in adults age ≥50 years. Agreement between the prevalence of low BMD at the femur neck and spine in older adults was also assessed. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure lumbar spine and femur neck BMD. World Health Organization definitions were used to categorize skeletal status as normal, osteopenia, or osteoporosis. RESULTS: Compared to non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks had higher and Mexican Americans had lower lumbar spine BMD. Lumbar spine BMD declined with age in women, but not in men. Approximately 4.7 million (10%) older US women and 1 million (3%) older men had lumbar spine osteoporosis in 2005-2008. Roughly one third of them differed in skeletal status at the spine and hip but most were normal at one site and osteopenic at the other. Only 3-10%, depending on sex, had osteoporosis at one skeletal site but not at the other skeletal site. Between 76% and 87% with discordant skeletal status had lumbar spine T-scores within 1 unit of the category threshold. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that measuring either the femur neck or the lumbar spine will correctly classify the majority of individuals who present for care as osteoporotic or not.

Mortality in the vertebroplasty population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for painful compression fractures refractory to conservative management. Because there are limited data regarding the survival characteristics of this patient population, we compared the survival of a treated with an untreated vertebral fracture cohort to determine whether vertebroplasty affects mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survival of a treated cohort, comprising 524 vertebroplasty recipients with refractory osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, was compared with a separate historical cohort of 589 subjects with fractures not treated by vertebroplasty who were identified from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Mortality was compared between cohorts by using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for age, sex, and Charlson indices of comorbidity. Mortality was also correlated with pre-, peri-, and postprocedural clinical metrics (eg, cement volume use, RDQ score, analog pain scales, frequency of narcotic use, and improvement in mobility) within the treated cohort. RESULTS: Vertebroplasty recipients demonstrated 77% of the survival expected for individuals of similar age, ethnicity, and sex within the US population. Compared with individuals with both symptomatic and asymptomatic untreated vertebral fractures, vertebroplasty recipients retained a 17% greater mortality risk. However, compared with symptomatic untreated vertebral fractures, vertebroplasty recipients had no increased mortality following adjustment for differences in age, sex, and comorbidity (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.82-1.25). In addition, no clinical metrics used to assess the efficacy of vertebroplasty were predictive of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebroplasty recipients have mortality rates similar to those of individuals with untreated symptomatic fractures but have worse mortality compared with those with asymptomatic vertebral fractures.

Secular trends in the incidence of hip and other osteoporotic fractures.

Osteoporosis constitutes a major public health problem through its association with age-related fractures, most notably those of the proximal femur. Substantial geographic variation has been noted in the incidence of hip fracture throughout the world, and estimates of recent incidence trends have varied widely. Studies in the published literature have reported an increase, plateau, and decrease in age-adjusted incidence rates for hip fracture among both men and women. Accurate characterisation of these temporal trends is important in predicting the health care burden attributable to hip fracture in future decades. We therefore conducted a review of studies worldwide, addressing secular trends in the incidence of hip and other fractures. Studies in western populations, whether in North America, Europe or Oceania, have generally reported increases in hip fracture incidence through the second half of the last century, but those continuing to follow trends over the last two decades have found that rates stabilise with age-adjusted decreases being observed in certain centres. In contrast, some studies suggest that the rate is rising in Asia. This synthesis of temporal trends in the published literature will provide an important resource for preventing fractures. Understanding the reasons for the recent declines in rates of hip fracture may help understand ways to reduce rates of hip fracture worldwide.

Determinants of forearm strength in postmenopausal women.

UNLABELLED: Bone strength at the ultradistal radius, quantified by micro-finite element modeling, can be predicted by variables obtained from high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans. The specific formula for this bone strength surrogate (-555.2 + 8.1 × [trabecular vBMD] + 19.6 × [cortical area] + 4.2 × [total cross-sectional area]) should be validated and tested in fracture risk assessment. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to identify key determinants of ultradistal radius (UDR) strength and evaluate their relationships with age, sex steroid levels, and measures of habitual skeletal loading. METHODS: UDR failure load (~strength) was assessed by micro-finite element (µFE) modeling in 105 postmenopausal controls from an earlier forearm fracture case-control study. Predictors of bone strength obtained by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) in this group were then evaluated in a population-based cohort of 214 postmenopausal women. Sex steroids were measured by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A surrogate variable (-555.2 + 8.1 × [trabecular vBMD] + 19.6 × [cortical area] + 4.2 × [total cross-sectional area]) predicted UDR strength modeled by µFE (R(2) = 0.81), and all parameters except total cross-sectional area declined with age. Evaluated cross-sectionally, the 21% fall in predicted bone strength between ages 40-49 years and 80+ years more resembled the change in trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) (-15%) than that in cortical area (-41%). In multivariable analyses, measures of body composition and physical activity were stronger predictors of UDR trabecular vBMD, cortical area, total cross-sectional area, and predicted bone strength than were sex steroid levels, but bio-available estradiol and testosterone were correlated with body mass. CONCLUSIONS: Bone strength at the UDR, as quantified by µFE, can be predicted from variables obtained by HRpQCT. Predicted bone strength declines with age with changes in UDR trabecular vBMD and cortical area, related in turn to reduced skeletal loading and sex steroid levels. The predicted bone strength formula should be validated and tested in fracture risk assessment.

Hip fracture risk in older US adults by treatment eligibility status based on new National Osteoporosis Foundation guidance.

UNLABELLED: This analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III data found a significant risk of incident hip fracture in adults aged 65 years and older who are candidates for treatment to lower fracture risk, according to the new National Osteoporosis Foundation Clinician's Guide. INTRODUCTION: The relationship between treatment eligibility by the new National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis and the risk of subsequent hip fracture is unknown. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 3,208 men and women ages 65 years and older who were examined in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994), a nationally representative survey. Risk factors used to define treatment eligibility at baseline were measured in NHANES III or were simulated using World Health Organization study cohorts. Incident hip fractures were ascertained using linked mortality and Medicare records that were obtained for NHANES III participants through December 31, 2000. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of hip fracture by treatment eligibility status. RESULTS: The RR for subsequent hip fracture was 4.9 (95% CI 3.30, 7.94) in treatment-eligible vs treatment-ineligible persons. The increased risk for treatment-eligible persons remained statistically significant when examined by sex or age: RR(men) = 5.5 (2.6, 11.4) and RR(women) = 4.3 (2.2, 8.4); RR(65-79 y) = 4.8 (2.6, 8.7) and RR(80+ y) = 4.6 (2.1, 10.1). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment-eligible persons were about five times more likely to experience a subsequent hip fracture than the non-eligible persons. The new NOF guidelines appear to predict future hip fracture risk equally in men as in women, and fracture risk prediction did not appear to diminish with age.

Trabecular bone deficits among Vietnamese immigrants.

SUMMARY: Compared to white women, lower areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in middle-aged Vietnamese immigrants is due to reduced trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), which in turn is associated with greater trabecular separation along with lower estrogen levels. INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of osteoporosis in Asian populations is still poorly known, but we previously found a deficit in lumbar spine aBMD among postmenopausal Southeast Asian women, compared to white women, that persisted after correction for bone size. This issue was revisited using more sophisticated imaging techniques. METHODS: Twenty Vietnamese immigrants (age, 44-79 years) were compared to 162 same-aged white women with respect to aBMD at the hip, spine and wrist, vBMD at the hip and spine by quantitative computed tomography and vBMD and bone microstructure at the ultradistal radius by high-resolution pQCT. Bone turnover and sex steroid levels were assessed in a subset (20 Vietnamese and 40 white women). RESULTS: The aBMD was lower at all sites among the Vietnamese women, but femoral neck vBMD did not differ from middle-aged white women. Significant differences in lumbar spine and ultradistal radius vBMD in the Vietnamese immigrants were due to lower trabecular vBMD, which was associated with increased trabecular separation. Bone resorption was elevated and bone formation depressed among the Vietnamese immigrants, although trends were not statistically significant. Serum estradiol was positively associated with trabecular vBMD in the Vietnamese women, but their estrogen levels were dramatically lower compared to white women. CONCLUSIONS: Although reported discrepancies in aBMD among Asian women are mainly an artifact of smaller bone size, we identified a specific deficit in the trabecular bone among a sample of Vietnamese immigrants that may be related to low estrogen levels and which needs further study.

The economics of coeliac disease: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing prevalence, the economic implications of coeliac disease are just emerging. AIMS: To assess the impact of coeliac disease diagnosis on healthcare costs and the incremental costs associated with coeliac disease. METHODS: Administrative data for a population-based cohort of coeliac disease cases and matched controls from Olmsted County, Minnesota were used to compare (i) direct medical costs 1 year pre- and post-coeliac disease diagnosis for 133 index cases and (ii) 4-year cumulative direct medical costs incurred by 153 index cases vs. 153 controls. Analyses exclude diagnostic-related and out-patient pharmaceutical costs. RESULTS: Average total costs were reduced by $1764 in the year following diagnosis (pre-diagnosis cost of $5023 vs. $3259; 95% CI of difference: $688 to $2993). Over a 4-year period, coeliac disease cases experienced higher out-patient costs (mean difference of $1457; P = 0.016) and higher total costs than controls (mean difference of $3964; P = 0.053). Excess average total costs were concentrated among males with coeliac disease ($14,191 vs. $4019 for male controls; 95% CI of difference: $2334 to $20,309). CONCLUSIONS: Coeliac disease-associated costs indicate a significant economic burden of disease, particularly for diseased males. Diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease reduce medical costs of care suggesting an economic advantage to earlier detection and treatment.

Referral and ascertainment bias in patients with synchronous and metachronous endometrial malignancy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency in patients with endometrial cancer of other malignancies and the influence of referral and ascertainment biases on these associations. Analysis of 1,028 local and referred patients who had a hysterectomy for endometrial cancer was based on residence at the time of diagnosis. Altogether, 208 patients had a history of another malignancy, most frequently breast, colon, and ovary. At the time of surgery for endometrial cancer, the prevalence of lymphoma and breast and ovarian cancers was greater than expected although the higher prevalence of lymphoma was limited to referred patients. During follow-up after hysterectomy, the incidence of lung cancer was lower than expected, whereas the incidence of lymphoma was higher. Breast, colorectal, and bladder cancers were more common than expected although this finding was limited to local patients. We concluded that results of epidemiologic studies from tertiary care centers may be misleading if they do not account for referral and ascertainment biases.

The potential impact of new National Osteoporosis Foundation guidance on treatment patterns.

UNLABELLED: This analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III data describes the prevalence of risk factors for osteoporosis and the proportions of men and postmenopausal women age 50 years and older who are candidates for treatment to lower fracture risk, according to the new FRAX-based National Osteoporosis Foundation Clinician's Guide. INTRODUCTION: Little information is available on prevalence of osteoporosis risk factors or proportions of US men and women who are potential candidates for treatment. METHODS: The prevalence of risk factors used in the new National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) FRAX-based Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis was estimated using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Risk factors not measured in NHANES III were simulated using World Health Organization cohorts. The proportion of US men and postmenopausal women age 50+ years who are treatment candidates by the new NOF Guide were calculated; for non-Hispanic white (NHW) women, the proportion eligible by the new NOF Guide was compared with that based on an earlier NOF Guide. RESULTS: Twenty percent of men and 37% of women were potential candidates for treatment to prevent fractures by the new NOF Guide. Among NHW women, 53% were potential candidates by the previous NOF Guide compared with 41% by the new guide. CONCLUSIONS: One fifth of men and 37% of postmenopausal women are eligible for osteoporosis treatment consideration by the new NOF Guide. However, fewer NHW women are eligible by the new guide than by the previous NOF Guide.