Similarity of bone mass measurement among hip, spines and distal forearm.

ABSTRACT

From January-December 1995, bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine, hip and distal forearm were studied in 325 healthy women visiting the menopause clinic, Chulalongkorn Hospital. This retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the correlation of BMD among various measurement sites. Bone mass measurement at hip and spine were performed utilizing dual energy X-ray absorptiometer (DEXA), Hologic QDR 2000 and at distal forearm by single energy X-ray absorptiometer (SEXA), Hologic DTX 100. By canoconical correlation, the results revealed a significant correlation of BMD of distal and ultra-distal part of forearm with various sites of hip (r = 0.602, p < 0.001). There was also significant correlation of distal and ultra-distal part of forearm with various sites of spines (r = 0.619, p < 0.001). Though there is some heterogeneity of bone mass density among different measurement sites, practically with this fairly good level of correlation, bone mass measurement of distal forearm might be used to predict the BMD of hip and spine in Thai women. The accuracy of predicting the BMD of hip and spine by BMD of distal forearm in the mass screening programme in Thailand is now going on. The results will be followed.