Underweight and risk of fractures in adults over 40 years using the nationwide claims database

Abstract

We aimed to investigate how underweight affects the incidence of fractures, as well as the influence of cumulative, longitudinal periods of low body mass index (BMI) and changes in body weight on fracture development. Data on adults aged 40-year and over who had three health screenings between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009 were used to determine the incidence of new fractures. The hazard ratios (HRs) for new fractures depending on BMI, total cumulative number of underweight, and weight change over time were calculated using Cox proportional hazard analysis. In this study, 15,955 (2.8%) of the 561,779 adults were diagnosed with fractures more than once over three health examinations. The fully adjusted HR for fractures in underweight individuals was 1.173 (95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.093–1.259). Underweight individuals diagnosed only once, twice, or three times had an adjusted HR of 1.227 (95%CI 1.130–1.332), 1.174 (95%CI 1.045–1.319), and 1.255 (95%CI 1.143–1.379), respectively. Although the adjusted HR was higher in adults who consistently had underweight (HR; 1.250 [95%CI 1.146–1.363]), those with underweight had an increased risk of fractures regardless of weight change (HR; 1.171 [95%CI 1.045–1.312], and 1.203[95%CI 1.075–1.346]). Underweight is a risk factor for fractures in adults over the age of 40 years, even if they returned to normal weight.