Bone mineral density and its relationship with body composition indices in stroke patients

Abstract

Background. Stroke and osteoporosis with its complications are age-related diseases that mainly affect the elderly. The aim of the study was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD, fat and lean mass and their association in stroke patients. Materials and methods. Eighty-six stroke patients and 86 age- and sex-matched individuals without neurological disorders as a comparison group were examined. BMD, lean and fat mass were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results. Men and women with stroke had a significantly higher frequency of osteoporosis than the comparison group (14.2 vs. 2.3 %; 20.5 vs. 4.4 %, respectively). BMD in women with a stroke was lower at the level of all examined areas, in men; differences were registered at the proximal femur and the total body. In men with stroke, significantly lower lean mass index (17.9 ± 1.5 and 19.2 ± 1.8 kg/m2; p < 0.05) and the appendicular lean mass index (7.5 ± 0.4 and 8.5 ± 1.0 kg/m2; p<0.05) were found, and in women — no significant differences in body composition indices were found, however, the frequency of sarcopenia was significantly higher in both men (28.6 vs. 9.5%, p<0.05) and women (15.9 vs. 2.3%, p<0.05). In men of both groups, positive correlations between total body BMD and lean mass were registered. The dependence of BMD of different areas on fat and lean mass was obtained in stroke women, in contrast to men, in whom the influence of fat mass on BMD was not found. Conclusion. The stroke leads to changes in bone mineral density and lean (muscle) mass and therefore is a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.