Longitudinal study of age- and menopause-related metacarpal index changes in Japanese adult females.

ABSTRACT

To establish a comprehensive mode for cortical bone thinning rate, the metacarpal index (MCI) of the index finger of the nondominant hand was measured using computed X-ray microdensitometry. Statistical analysis was used to study the MCI data in relation to age and menopausal status. A total of 383 healthy Japanese women ranging in age from 30 to 79 yr were investigated in 1996 and 1999. The MCI was generally decreased by 1.11% per year. However, accelerative decreases of 1.78 and 2.05% per year were observed within both the age 50-59 yr group and the early postmenopausal period, respectively. In addition, analysis of age-based longitudinal data showed that the age-related loss of MCI in the age 50-59 yr category was significantly higher than that in the other age categories (p < 0.01), indicating that the changes in MCI were more dependent on menopausal status than on aging. Our study suggests that the cortical bone thinning rate is affected by both aging and menopausal status, but the latter may be a predominant factor.