The effect of age on the changes in bone mineral density and osteoporosis detection rates in men over fifty years

Objective To explore the effect of age on the changes in bone mineral density ( BMD) at different skeletal sites and the osteoporosis detection rates in men over the age of 50. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out by studying the general information and BMD data. Grouped by age and the osteoporosis diagnostic criteria,comparisons were made among different age groups about BMDs,the detection rates of osteoporosis and osteopenia at different skeletal sites. Results BMDs at total hip and femoral neck decreased with age ( p 0. 01) and were negatively correlated with age by liner correlation analysis ( r = 0. 36, 0. 30; P all 0. 05) ,whereas the BMD at lumbar spine was positively correlated with age ( r = 0. 14; P 0. 05) . The detection rates of osteoporosis and osteopenia were 10. 08% and 43. 21% respectively,which increased with age,and significantly higher among those over seventy years than under seventy years ( 47. 75% vs 35. 56% ; 14. 88% vs 1. 99% ; P all 0. 01) . The detection rate at the femoral neck was similar to the overall detection rate. Conclusion BMDs at femoral neck and total hip decreased with age. Detection rates of osteoporosis and osteopenia increased with age. Bilateral measurements of femoral neck BMD could help to improve detection rates of osteoporosis and osteopenia.