Trends in Bone Mineral Density in US 6-80 Years Old: Findings from 2005-2020 NHANES Surveys

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

12:39 PM – 12:44 PM

Location: Station 3

Presenting Author(s)

Inga Wang, PhD, OTR

Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Non-presenting Author(s)

SY

Sheng-Che Yen, PT, Ph.D.

Associate Clinical Professor
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
MR

Mohammad H. Rahman, PhD

Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
XL

Xiaoyan Li, PhD

Assistant Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin, United States
SH

Stephen Hou, PhD, MB(ASCP)QCYM, MLS

Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
CL

Chiung-ju Liu, PhD, OTR/L, FGSA

Associate Professor
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States

Research Objectives: The bone mineral density (BMD) reflects bone health and is associated with the risk of developing osteoporotic fractures. This study aimed to examine the trends in BMD values in US 6-80 years old, and the changes in BMD values between 2005 and 2020.

Design: This is a cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: General community.

Participants: Data from 28,514 noninstitutionalized participants, aged 6 to 80, were obtained from the 2005-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study. We described the distributions of BMD values by sex, age group (6-8, 9-11, 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+ yr), and compared the trends in six cross-sectional surveys during 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2013-2014, 2017-2018, 2017-2020.

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: BMD at the lumbar spine and femur was assessed using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA).

Results: BMD changed by age and differed by sex. For males, mean femur BMD values (g/cm2) increased from 0.71 (6-8 yr), to 0.93 (12-15 yr), to 1.11 (16-19 yr), and decreased gradually to 0.92 (80+ yr) by age. For females, mean femur BMD values (g/cm2) increased from 0.66 (6-8 yr), to 0.93 (12-15 yr), to 0.98 (16-19 yr), and decreased gradually to 0.74 (80+ yr) by age. For males, mean spine BMD values (g/cm2) increased from 0.58 (6-8 yr), to 0.82 (12-15 yr), to 1.07 (25-29 yr), and maintained the levels by age (mean BMD = 1.07 at 80+ yr). For females, mean spine BMD values (g/cm2) increased from 0.60 (6-8 yr), to 0.94 (12-15 yr), to 1.08 (35-39 yr), and decreased gradually to 0.90 (80+ yr) by age. Males had higher femur BMD values in the age group 16-80 years old, and higher spine BMD values in the age group 50-80 years old, compared to females (p <.001). Mean BMD values (g/cm2) were relatively stable across data releasing cycles 2005-2020.

Conclusions: Between 2005 and 2020, stable trends in BMD values were observed among noninstitutionalized residents in the US.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Learning Objectives:

To describe the bone mineral density reference values in noninstitutionalized participants 6-80 years old.
To identify the changes in the average BMD values in the past 15 years in the US.
To explain the differences in BMD values by sex.