Trends in hip fracture rates in US male veterans.

Osteoporotic fracture has been understudied in men. In US male veterans aged 50 years and older between 2002 and 2019, hip fracture incidence increased between 2006 and 2019, fewer than 6% of men underwent DXA, and fewer than 0.5% of men were treated. Investigation of low screening and treatment rates is warranted. PURPOSE: In the United States, the annual incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture is estimated to be 250,000 to 300,000; the one-year mortality in some studies has been as high as 32%. Reports that hip fracture rates in US women 65 years and older may no longer be declining led to this investigation of hip fracture in men, a less studied population. We assessed the trends in the incidence of hip fracture in US male veterans 50 years and older of age as well as the rates of diagnosis and treatment in such men. METHODS: We assessed the recent trends of hip fracture incidence in a nation-wide male veteran population 50 years and older of age. Using data from the US Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) 2002-2019, we calculated the annual age-standardized hip fracture incidence. Secondary objectives included evaluating the annual proportion of hip fracture patients who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before or after the fracture and/or received osteoporosis medication after the hip fracture over the study period. RESULTS: Hip fracture incidence increased in male veterans from 2006 to 2019. Fewer than 6% of men underwent a DXA scan and fewer than 0.5% received osteoporosis medications up to two years after a hip fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Despite available screening methods such as DXAs and medications for primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures, hip fracture incidence is not decreasing in older male veterans. Our study highlights a need for closer attention to fracture risk in men.

The diagnostic value of MRI-based vertebral bone quality score for osteoporosis or osteopenia in patients undergoing lumbar surgery: a meta-analysis.

The importance of osteoporosis assessment before lumbar surgery is well recognized. The MRI-based Vertebral Bone Quality (VBQ) score is introduced to evaluate bone quality; however, its diagnostic value has not been well documented. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to summarize the diagnostic value of the VBQ score for osteoporosis or osteopenia in patients undergoing lumbar surgery. We comprehensively searched electronic databases for studies exploring the diagnostic accuracy of the VBQ score for osteoporosis/osteopenia in patients with lumbar disease following the PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the included studies was assessed. The VBQ scores were compared between the groups, and the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were calculated. Publication bias was assessed, and meta-regression was conducted. We included 17 studies with a total of 2815 patients, with a mean age of 66.4 years and a percentage of females of 72.5%. According to the QUADAS-2 tool, the quality of the included studies was relatively high. The results showed a significantly higher VBQ score in the osteoporosis/osteopenia group compared with the control group. According to the mean VBQ cutoff value of 3.02 ± 0.38 for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 and 0.74, respectively, and the AUC was 0.81. According to the mean VBQ cutoff value of 2.31 ± 0.18 for the diagnosis of osteopenia, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.78 and 0.58, respectively, and the AUC was 0.76. The MRI-based VBQ score could provide useful information for identifying patients with low bone mass who need further evaluation. Future prospective studies are still needed to evaluate the complementary role of the VBQ score.

Utility of MRI-based vertebral bone quality scores and CT-based Hounsfield unit values in vertebral bone mineral density assessment for patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.

This study investigated bone mineral density assessment for patients with DISH. DXA-based T-scores overestimated bone quality, while MRI-based VBQ scores and CT-based HU values provided accurate assessments, particularly for advanced degenerative cases. This enhances accurate evaluation of BMD, crucial for clinical decision-making. PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic effectiveness of DXA, MRI, and CT in assessing bone mineral density (BMD) for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 105 DISH patients and 116 age-matched controls with lumbar spinal stenosis was conducted. BMD was evaluated using DXA-based T-scores, MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores, and CT-based Hounsfield unit (HU) values. Patients were categorized into three BMD subgroups. Lumbar osteophyte categories were determined by Mata score. Demographics, clinical data, T-scores, VBQ scores, and HU values were collected. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified VBQ and HU thresholds for diagnosing normal BMD using DXA in controls. Correlations between VBQ, HU, and lumbar T-score were analyzed. RESULTS: Age, gender, and BMI showed no significant differences between DISH and control groups. DISH patients had higher T-score (L1-4), the lowest T-score, and Mata scores. VBQ and HU did not significantly differ between groups. In controls, VBQ and HU effectively diagnosed normal BMD (AUC = 0.857 and 0.910, respectively) with cutoffs of 3.0 for VBQ and 104.3 for HU. DISH had higher normal BMD prevalence using T-scores (69.5% vs. 58.6%, P < 0.05), but no significant differences using VBQ (57.1% vs. 56.2%, P > 0.05) and HU (58.1% vs. 57.8%, P > 0.05). Correlations revealed moderate correlations between HU and T-scores (L1-4) in DISH (r = 0.642, P < 0.001) and strong in controls (r = 0.846, P < 0.001). Moderate negative correlations were observed between VBQ and T-scores (L1-4) in DISH (r = - 0.450, P < 0.001) and strong in controls (r = - 0.813, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DXA-based T-scores may overestimate BMD in DISH. VBQ scores and HU values could effectively complement BMD assessment, particularly in DISH patients or those with advanced lumbar degeneration.

Updated practice guideline for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

The introduction of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technology in the 1980s revolutionized the diagnosis, management and monitoring of osteoporosis, providing a clinical tool which is now available worldwide. However, DXA measurements are influenced by many technical factors, including the quality control procedures for the instrument, positioning of the patient, and approach to analysis. Reporting of DXA results may be confounded by factors such as selection of reference ranges for T-scores and Z-scores, as well as inadequate knowledge of current standards for interpretation. These points are addressed at length in many international guidelines but are not always easily assimilated by practising clinicians and technicians. Our aim in this report is to identify key elements pertaining to the use of DXA in clinical practice, considering both technical and clinical aspects. Here, we discuss technical aspects of DXA procedures, approaches to interpretation and integration into clinical practice, and the use of non-bone mineral density measurements, such as a vertebral fracture assessment, in clinical risk assessment.

Patients with Periprosthetic Femoral Hip Fractures are Commonly Classified as Having Osteoporosis Based on DXA Measurements.

Periprosthetic femoral hip fractures are subject to an increasing incidence and are often considered to be related to osteoporosis. However, there are no available studies that have determined the frequency of osteoporosis in affected patients using gold standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In this retrospective comparative study, we analyzed the DXA results of 40 patients with periprosthetic femoral hip fractures who were treated surgically in our department. DXA measurements were performed at the total hip and the lumbar spine to determine bone mineral density T-scores. Data were compared to two age-, sex-, and BMI-matched control groups in which patients underwent DXA prior to aseptic revision surgery for other causes or primary THA (consisting of 40 patients each). The mean T-score in the periprosthetic fracture cohort was significantly lower (- 1.78 ± 1.78) than that of the aseptic revision (- 0.65 ± 1.58, mean difference - 1.13 [95% CI - 1.88 to - 0.37]; p = 0.001) and the primary THA cohort (- 0.77 ± 1.34, mean difference - 1.01 [95% CI - 1.77 to - 0.26]; p = 0.005). Accordingly, osteoporosis was detected more frequently (45%) in the fracture cohort compared to patients undergoing aseptic revision (12.5%) and primary THA (10%). In conclusion, almost half of the patients with periprosthetic femoral hip fractures have osteoporosis according to DXA measurements. A regular assessment of bone health in THA enables identification of patients with osteoporosis who likely benefit from initiation of osteoporosis medication and cemented stem fixation.

Radiofrequency Echographic Multispectrometry (REMS) can Overcome the Effects of Structural Internal Artifacts and Evaluate Bone Fragility Accurately.

PURPOSE: This study measured bone mineral density (BMD) in a Japanese population using the novel non-ionizing system using radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry (REMS) and compared the results with those obtained using traditional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We aimed to identify any discrepancies between measurements obtained using these instruments and identify the influencing factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined patients with osteoporosis treated at a single center from April to August 2023. We examined BMD assessment by DXA and REMS in lumbar spine and proximal femur. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with discrepancies between lumbar spine BMD measured by DXA and REMS, and those without. Semiquantitative evaluation of vertebral fractures and abdominal aortic calcification scoring were also performed and compared between the two groups, along with various patient characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients (88.6% female; mean age 78.39 ± 9.50 years) undergoing osteoporosis treatment were included in the study. A significant difference was noted between DXA and REMS measurement of BMD and T-scores, with REMS recording consistently lower values. The discrepancy group exhibited a higher incidence of multiple vertebral fractures and increased vascular calcification than the non-discrepancy group. Multivariate analysis indicated that diabetes mellitus, severe vertebral fractures, and increased abdominal aortic calcification scores were significantly associated with discrepancies in lumbar spine T-scores. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that REMS may offer a more accurate measurement of BMD, overcoming the overestimation of BMD by DXA owing to factors such as vertebral deformities, abdominal aortic calcification, and diabetes mellitus.

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Diabetic Osteopathy: Another Positive Effect of Incretines? A 12 Months Longitudinal Study.

Diabetic osteopathy is a frequent complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The association between T2DM and increased fracture risk has led to study the impact of new antidiabetic drugs on bone metabolism. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are incretin mimetic drugs which have many pleiotropic properties. The relationship between GLP-1RAs and bone is very complex: while in vitro and animal studies have demonstrated a protective effect on bone, human studies are scarce. We led a 12 months longitudinal study evaluating bone changes in 65 patients withT2DM for whom a therapy with GLP-1RAs had been planned. Fifty-four T2DM patients completed the 12-month study period; of them, 30 had been treated with weekly dulaglutide and 24 with weekly semaglutide. One-year therapy with GLP-1RAs resulted in a significant reduction in weight and BMI. Bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism, trabecular bone score (TBS), adiponectin, and myostatin were evaluated before and after 12 months of GLP-1RAs therapy. After 12 months of therapy bone turnover markers and adiponectin showed a significant increase, while myostatin values showed a modest but significant reduction. BMD-LS by DXA presented a significant reduction while the reduction in BMD-LS by REMS was not significant and TBS values showed a marginal increase. Both DXA and REMS techniques showed a modest but significant reduction in femoral BMD. In conclusion, the use of GLP-1RAs for 12 months preserves bone quality and reactivates bone turnover. Further studies are needed to confirm whether GLP-1RAs could represent a useful therapeutic option for patients with T2DM and osteoporosis.

Appendicular lean mass index and motor function in ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) has been linked to motor function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, quantification of the relationship between ALMI and disease-specific clinical outcome assessment trajectories is needed. The purpose of this study was to determine associations between dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) derived estimates of ALMI and motor function in ambulatory patients with DMD. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of longitudinal clinical visit data from 137 glucocorticoid-treated patients with DMD collected via structured motor assessment protocol evaluated associations between ALMI and motor function indexed by the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) and 10 Meter Walk/run Test (10MWT). Body composition was assessed using DXA. ALMI was calculated by dividing arm and leg lean mass by height in m2; fat mass index (FMI) was calculated by dividing whole body fat mass by height in m2. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate associations between ALMI and motor function, controlling for age and FMI. RESULTS: The full prediction model (age, age,2 ALMI, and FMI) explained 57% of the variance in NSAA scores and 63% of the variance in 10MWT speed. A 1 kg/m2 higher ALMI value predicted a 5.4-point higher NSAA score (p < .001) and 0.45 m/s faster 10MWT speed (p < .001). A 1 kg/m2 higher FMI value predicted a 1.5-point lower NSAA score (p < .001) and 0.14 meters/second slower 10MWT speed (p < .001). DISCUSSION: DXA-derived estimates of ALMI and FMI are associated with motor function in DMD and may explain variation in DMD disease progression.

The effect of forearm rotation on the bone mineral density measurements of the distal radius.

INTRODUCTION: Forearm dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is often performed in clinics where central DXA is unavailable. Accurate bone mineral density (BMD) measurement is crucial for clinical assessment. Forearm rotation can affect BMD measurements, but this effect remains uncertain. Thus, we aimed to conduct a simulation study using CT images to clarify the effect of forearm rotation on BMD measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forearm CT images of 60 women were analyzed. BMD was measured at the total, ultra-distal (UD), mid-distal (MD), and distal 33% radius regions with the radius located at the neutral position using digitally reconstructed radiographs generated from CT images. Then, the rotation was altered from - 30° to 30° (supination set as positive) with a one-degree increment, and the percent BMD changes from the neutral position were quantified for all regions at each angle for each patient. RESULTS: The maximum mean BMD changes were 5.8%, 7.0%, 6.2%, and 7.2% for the total, UD, MD, and distal 33% radius regions, respectively. The analysis of the absolute values of the percent BMD changes from the neutral position showed that BMD changes of all patients remained within 2% when the rotation was between - 5° and 7° for the total region, between - 3° and 2° for the UD region, between - 4° and 3° for the MD region, and between - 3° and 1° for the distal 33% radius region. CONCLUSION: Subtle rotational changes affected the BMD measurement of each region. The results showed the importance of forearm positioning when measuring the distal radius BMD.

Efficacy of vitamin D2 in maintaining serum total vitamin D concentrations and bone mineralisation in adult dogs fed a plant-based (vegan) diet in a 3-month randomised trial.

Dogs are considered omnivores based on their evolution consuming diets including animal tissue. Few feeding trials evaluating the nutritional suitability of exclusively plant-based (vegan) diets in dogs have been published, and the efficacy of vitamin D2 in maintaining canine serum vitamin D levels has not been clearly determined. A blinded dietary trial included sixty-one healthy desexed adult dogs: thirty-one fed an experimental extruded vegan diet (PLANT) and thirty fed a commercial extruded meat-based diet (MEAT) for 3 months. Dogs were screened via veterinary examination and routine laboratory analyses prior to enrolment, at baseline and exit timepoints. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and blood was collected for vitamin D profiling. All dogs maintained health parameters, body weight and composition throughout the study. Dogs maintained on PLANT demonstrated a significant reduction in platelet count, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and cholesterol, though values remained within normal reference ranges. Dogs fed PLANT also demonstrated a shift from vitamin D3 to vitamin D2 metabolites, though total vitamin D analogue levels were unchanged, with the exception of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Bone mineral content and density did not differ from baseline values. Health status was maintained in dogs fed PLANT and vitamin D2 appeared efficacious in maintaining serum total vitamin D concentrations and bone mineralisation. Findings support the hypothesis that PLANT was comparable to MEAT for maintenance of healthy adult dogs for at least 3 months and identified areas where further research is warranted to elucidate the potential risks and benefits of plant-based (vegan) diets.

Body composition analysis using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in an Egyptian pediatric sickle cell disease cohort.

BACKGROUND: Growth failure is commonly encountered in sickle cell disease (SCD). Tissue compartment growth and development are subsequently likely to be altered in such patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze body composition in an Egyptian pediatric SCD cohort using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), one of the most comprehensive and noninvasive assessment methods available. METHODS: Forty children with SCD ≤18 years and 40 healthy youngsters age- and gender-matched were enrolled. Patients' demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were obtained from their archived files. All patients and controls were subjected to body composition assessment using a MedixDR-Whole Body DEXA System. RESULTS: In SCD patients; weight and height relative to age Z scores were significantly lower (p < .001), total body lean was significantly higher (p = .006), and total body fat percentage was lower, yet the difference was not statistically significant (p = .09). There were no statistically significant variations in bone mineral density or content, basal metabolic rate, subcutaneous adipose tissue, android/gynoid fat ratio, and visceral adipose tissue. There were no significant gender disparities between SCD patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Faltering growth in children with SCD should be addressed with a multidisciplinary approach including nutritional support, correction of anemia, and proper medical care. Body composition parameters assessed using DEXA were comparable between cases and controls apart from total body lean. Further clinical studies are needed with multicenter cooperation and a larger sample size to assess the usefulness of DEXA as an assessment tool for body composition in children with SCD.

Longitudinal associations of DXA-measured visceral adipose tissue and cardiometabolic risk in middle-to-older aged adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: DXA-measured visceral adipose tissue (VATDXA) is associated with adverse cardiometabolic risk profiles in cross-sectional studies, but longitudinal associations have not been investigated. We examined the longitudinal associations of baseline and change in VATDXA with future cardiometabolic risk in Australian participants of the Busselton Healthy Ageing study. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 3569 participants (54.7% female, aged 46-70 years) with data on VATDXA (GE Lunar Prodigy) and cardiometabolic risk factors at baseline and 6 years follow-up. The associations were examined using logistic and linear regression models, adjusting for baseline age and lifestyle factors. Mean baseline VATDXA mass was 1653 ± 880 g and 855 ± 580 g, and mean change in VATDXA +99 ± 500 g and +58 ± 312 g in males and females, respectively. Among all participants, 182 males (11.3%) and 197 females (10.1%) developed incident metabolic syndrome (MetS). Baseline VATDXA was associated with incident MetS with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.53 (95% CI: 2.03, 3.15) in males and 2.78 (2.30, 3.36) in females per SD increment. There was a graded positive association between longitudinal change in VATDXA and MetS severity z score in both sexes adjusted for baseline VAT (P < 0.001). All the above associations remained significant after further adjustment for baseline or change in BMI, waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio in respective models (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher baseline and greater longitudinal increase in VATDXA are independently associated with raised cardiometabolic risk over time, and may serve as useful markers for identifying middle-aged individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk.

Predicting Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients With Early-Stage Diabetic Kidney Disease Using a Radiomic Model: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: There is an urgent need for effective predictive strategies to accurately evaluate the risk of fragility fractures in elderly patients in the early stages of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study included 715 older patients in the early stages of DKD diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2019. Patients were randomly allocated to a training cohort (n = 499) and a validation cohort (n = 216). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to select key features for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-based radiomic analysis. A radiomic model was constructed using Cox proportional hazards regression. The performance of the radiomic model was compared with that of traditional fracture assessment tools through a receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 4.72 ± 1.60 years, 65 participants (9.09%) experienced incident fragility fractures. Seventeen features were ultimately selected to create the radiomic model. The calibration plots of this model demonstrated satisfactory agreement between the observed and predicted outcomes. Moreover, the radiomic model outperformed traditional fracture assessment tools in both the training and validation cohorts according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The novel radiomic model has demonstrated a more effective prediction of fragility fracture in elderly patients in the early stages of DKDcompared to traditional fracture assessment tools.

Femoral bone mineral density at the time of hip fracture is higher in women with versus without type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To compare femoral bone mineral density (BMD) levels in hip-fracture women with versus without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We hypothesized that BMD levels could be higher in the women with T2DM than in controls and we aimed to quantify the BMD discrepancy associated with the presence of T2DM. METHODS: At a median of 20 days after the occurrence of an original hip fracture due to fragility we measured BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the non-fractured femur. RESULTS: We studied 751 women with subacute hip fracture. Femoral BMD was significantly higher in the 111 women with T2DM than in the 640 without diabetes: mean T-score between-group difference was 0.50, (95% CI from 0.30 to 0.69, P < 0.001). The association between the presence of T2DM and femoral BMD persisted after adjustment for age, body mass index, hip-fracture type, neurologic diseases, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and estimated glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.001). For a woman without versus with T2DM, the adjusted odds ratio to have a femoral BMD T-score below the threshold of - 2.5 was 2.13 (95% CI from 1.33 to 3.42, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Fragility fractures of the hip occurred in women with T2DM at a femoral BMD level higher than in control women. In the clinical assessment of fracture risk, we support the adjustment based on the 0.5 BMD T-score difference between women with and without T2DM, although further data from robust longitudinal studies is needed to validate the BMD-based adjustment of fracture risk estimation.

Follow-up Bone Mineral Density Testing: 2023 Official Positions of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard method for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) which is most strongly associated with fracture risk. BMD is therefore the basis for the World Health Organization's densitometric definition of osteoporosis. The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) promotes best densitometry practices and its official positions reflect critical review of current evidence by domain experts. This document reports new official positions regarding follow-up DXA examinations based on a systematic review of literature published through December 2022. Adoption of official positions requires consensus agreement from an expert panel following a modified RAND protocol. Unless explicitly altered by the new position statements, prior ISCD official positions remain in force. This update reflects increased consideration of the clinical context prompting repeat examination. Follow-up DXA should be performed with pre-defined objectives when the results would have an impact on patient management. Testing intervals should be individualized according to the patient's age, sex, fracture risk and treatment history. Incident fractures and therapeutic approach are key considerations. Appropriately ordered and interpreted follow-up DXA examinations support diagnostic and therapeutic decision making, thereby contributing to excellent clinical care. Future research should address the complementary roles of clinical findings, imaging and laboratory testing to guide management.

Assessing Change in Spine Bone Density from Different Numbers and Combinations of Lumbar Vertebrae: The Manitoba BMD Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Change in bone mineral density (BMD) is considered significant when it exceeds the 95 % least significant change (LSC) derived from that facility's precision study. The lumbar spine is often affected by structural artifact such that not all four lumbar vertebrae are evaluable. Guidelines suggest using a site-matched LSC when omitting vertebrae from the BMD measurement. The current study describes significant BMD change related to intervening anti-osteoporosis treatment for different numbers and combinations of lumbar vertebrae using site-matched LSC values. METHODOLOGY: We identified 10,526 untreated adult women mean age 59.6 years with baseline and repeat spine BMD testing (mean interval 4.7 years) where all 4 lumbar vertebrae were evaluable. Change in spine BMD for different combinations of lumbar vertebrae was assessed in relation to intervening anti-resorptive treatment, contrasting women with high treatment exposure (medication possession ratio, MPR ≥ 0.8) versus women who remained untreated. Site-matched LSC values were derived from 879 test-retest precision measurements. RESULTS: There was consistent linear trend between increasing MPR and BMD change exceeding the LSC for all lumbar vertebral combinations, positive with BMD increase and negative with BMD decrease (all p-trend <0.001). In the high treatment exposure group, mean percent increases in spine BMD were similar for all vertebral combinations, from L1-4 to a single vertebra. In untreated women, mean percent decreases in spine BMD were also similar for all vertebral combinations. The net treatment response (proportion of women with treatment-concordant changes minus proportion with treatment-discordant changes exceeding the LSC) was 29.7 % for 4 vertebrae, 27.5-30.0 % for 3 vertebrae, 22.4-28.5 % for 2 vertebrae, and 18.1-21.9 % for a single vertebra. CONCLUSIONS: All numbers and combinations of lumbar vertebrae, when used in conjunction with site-matched LSC values, can provide clinically meaningful follow-up in treated and untreated patients, even when spine BMD is based on a single vertebral body.

Fracture Risk Associated with Different Numbers and Combinations of Lumbar Vertebrae: The Manitoba BMD Registry.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is widely used for assessment of fracture risk. For the lumbar spine, BMD is typically measured from L1-L4 as it provides the largest area for assessment with the best measurement precision. Structural artifact often confounds spine BMD in clinical practice, and the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) recommends removing vertebrae with artifact when reporting spine BMD. In its most recent position statements, the ISCD recommended against the use of a single vertebra when reporting spine BMD but stated that further studies should be done. The current analysis was performed to compare the performance of BMD from different numbers and combination of vertebral levels on fracture prediction in a large clinical registry of DXA tests for the Province of Manitoba, Canada. The study population comprised 39,727 individuals aged 40 years and older (mean age 62.7 years, 91.0 % female) with baseline DXA after excluding those with evidence of structural artifact. Mean follow-up for ascertaining fracture outcomes was 8.7 years. Area under the curve (AUC) for incident fracture risk stratification was statistically significant regardless of the BMD measurement site or fracture outcome. AUC differences with the various numbers and combinations of vertebral levels including a single vertebral body were small (less than or equal to 0.01). More substantial AUC differences were seen for femoral neck and total hip BMD versus L1-L4 BMD, approaching 0.1 for hip fracture stratification. In summary, we found that using combinations of fewer than 4 vertebrae including individual lumbar vertebrae predicted incident fractures. Importantly, differences between these different combinations were small when compared with L1-L4. Spine BMD was a better predictor of incident spine fracture compared to the hip, whereas the hip was better for hip fracture and overall fracture prediction.

Sarcopenia Does Not Impact the Outcome of Patients with Multiple Myeloma Consolidated with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia has been associated with chronic diseases and cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate sarcopenia in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. METHODS: In 68 eligible patients, measurement of skeletal muscle area (cm2) on computed tomography scans at the level of the L3 vertebra (L3 SMI) was performed. RESULTS: 37 (54%) patients were categorized as sarcopenic: 26 males with L3 SMI values <52.4 cm2/m2, and 11 women with L3 SMI values <38.9 cm2/m2. The majority of sarcopenic patients included were older than 60 years (69%, p = 0.0005), with BMI <25 (75%; p = 0.0000). A significant association was found between sarcopenia and Sorror score value >1 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The Kaplan-Meier curve showed a median OS of 73.5 months for non-sarcopenic patients versus 86.5 months for sarcopenic patients, suggesting that sarcopenia is not an independent prognostic factor in this cohort of patients. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these data.

Bone Mineral Density Monitoring in Contiguous versus Non-Contiguous Lumbar Vertebrae: The Manitoba BMD Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Only change in bone mineral density (BMD) on repeat DXA that exceeds the 95% least significant change (LSC) should be considered clinically meaningful. Frequently lumbar spine DXA must be reported after omitting vertebrae with localized structural artifact, which reduces measurement precision. Previous reports have raised concerns of higher least significant change (LSC) when spine BMD is based on non-contiguous rather than contiguous vertebrae. The current study was performed to compare lumbar spine LSC and BMD response to intervening anti-osteoporosis medication use from non-contiguous versus contiguous vertebrae. METHODOLOGY: LSCs for lumbar spine DXA based on L1-L4 and all combinations of non-contiguous and contiguous vertebrae were calculated using 879 scan-pairs from the Manitoba BMD Program. We compared BMD change from these regions, overall and in relation to intervening anti-osteoporosis medication use, in 11,722 patients who had 2 DXA examinations. RESULTS: LSCs were slightly greater when calculated from combinations of fewer than 4 vertebrae, but there was no meaningful difference between contiguous versus non-contiguous vertebrae. There were consistently high correlations between lumbar spine BMD change from L1-L4 and all combinations of continuous and non-contiguous vertebrae (all Pearson r≥ 0.9, p<0.001). Percentage changes in spine BMD and the fraction with treatment-concordant change exceeding the LSC were similar using contiguous or non-contiguous vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar spine BMD change can be assessed from 2 or 3 non-contiguous vertebrae when clinically necessary, and precision in such cases is similar to using contiguous vertebrae. Non-contiguous vertebrae can detect treatment-concordant changes similar in spine BMD to contiguous vertebrae.

Effects of Lumbar Spine Vertebral Fractures on Trabecular Bone Score (TBS): The Manitoba BMD Registry.

Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a BMD-independent risk factor for fracture. During BMD reporting, it is standard practice to exclude lumbar vertebral levels affected by structural artifact. It is uncertain whether TBS is affected by lumbar spine fractures. The current study examined the effect of lumbar spine compression fractures on TBS measurements. We identified 656 individuals with vertebral fractures (mean age 75.8 ± 7.9 years, 90.9% female) who had lumbar spine DXA, TBS measurements from L1-L4 and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) for identifying vertebral fractures. There were 272 cases with lumbar spine fractures and 384 controls with only thoracic spine fractures. L1 TBS and BMD were significantly greater in those with than without lumbar fractures (p< 0.001) but did not significantly differ for other vertebral levels or for L1-L4 combined. TBS and BMD measurements were then renormalized to remove level-specific differences (denoted rTBS and rBMD). The mean difference (all fractured minus all non-fractured vertebrae) was +0.040 (+3.3%) for rTBS and +0.088 g/cm2 (+9.5%) for rBMD (both p <0.001). The largest effect was for L1 with mean difference +0.058 (+4.9%) for rTBS and +0.098 g/cm2 (+10.6%) for rBMD (both p <0.001). The mean difference between fractured and non-fractured levels for rTBS was +0.028 (+2.4%) for grade 1, +0.036 (+3.0%) for grade 2 and +0.059 (+5.0%) for grade 3 fractures; for rBMD +0.051 (+5.5%), +0.076 (+8.2%) and +0.151 (+16.4%) g/cm2, respectively. The impact of excluding lumbar vertebral levels with fracture from the L1-L4 TBS measurement overall was small (-0.011 [-1.0%]; p<0.001) and was also small for grade 3 fractures (-0.020 [-1.7%]; p<0.001). In summary, TBS is mildly increased by VFA-confirmed lumbar vertebral fractures, but the percentage effect is much smaller (less than half) than seen for BMD and minimally affects TBS measured from L1-L4. This would support the use of L1-L4 without exclusions in individuals with lumbar vertebral fractures.