Abstract
BackgroundThe incidence of fractures in rural populations is lower than in urban populations, although the reason for this difference is unclear. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the difference in bone mineral density (BMD), a primary predictor of fracture risk, between urban and rural Thai populations.MethodsFemoral neck and lumbar spine BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar, Madison, WI) in 411 urban and 436 rural subjects (340 men and 507 women), aged between 20 and 84 years. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height.ResultsAfter adjusting for age and body weight in an analysis of covariance model, femoral neck BMD in rural men and women was significantly higher than those in urban men and women (P < 0.001), but the difference was not observed at the lumbar spine. After stratifying by sex, age group, and BMI category, the urban-rural difference in femoral neck BMD became more pronounced in men and women aged <50 years and with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2.ConclusionsThese data suggest that femoral neck BMD in rural men and women was higher than their counterparts in urban areas. This difference could potentially explain part of the urban-rural difference in fracture incidence.
Highlights
The incidence of fractures in rural populations is lower than in urban populations, the reason for this difference is unclear
In the present population-based study, we have shown that bone mineral density (BMD) in a rural Thai population was significantly higher than in urban population, at femoral neck
Sundberg et al [12] reported that lumbar spine BMD in rural adolescents was significantly higher than that in urban adolescents, but there was no significant difference in femoral neck BMD
Summary
The incidence of fractures in rural populations is lower than in urban populations, the reason for this difference is unclear. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the difference in bone mineral density (BMD), a primary predictor of fracture risk, between urban and rural Thai populations. Men Number of Subjects Age (years) Body weight (kg) Height (cm) Body Mass Index (kg/m2) Bone Mineral Density (g/cm). Femoral neck Lumbar spine Women Number of Subjects Age (years) Body weight (kg) Height (cm) Body Mass Index (kg/m2) Bone Mineral Density (g/cm2) Femoral neck Lumbar spine.
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