BackgroundBone mineral density (BMD) is an indicator of bone health that predicts future bone fractures. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is used to assess the severity of symptoms related to pain, stiffness, and function in diseased hip and knee joints. Here we assessed whether BMD measured at specific sites predicts WOMAC scores in healthy individuals whilst controlling for sociodemographic variables. MethodologyBMD, sociodemographic, and WOMAC data were collected from 1764 healthy adult individuals attending the Qatar Biobank (QBB). Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors, total body BMD and BMD related to specific skeletal sites (including femoral (femoral neck and trochanter), trunk, pelvis and total spine), and the three WOMAC subscales (pain, stiffness, and physical function). ResultsAfter controlling for sociodemographic variables, total body and specific BMD measures did not predict pain. However, BMD measures significantly contributed to predicting stiffness after controlling for sociodemographic variables (R2 = 0.065, ΔF(7, 1724) = 3.34, p = 0.002), with a higher total body BMD associated with increased stiffness and a higher trunk BMD associated with decreased stiffness. Total body BMD measures also significantly contributed to predicting compromised physical function (R2 = 0.091, ΔF(7, 1724) = 3.762, p < 0.001) after controlling for sociodemographic variables, with a higher total body BMD associated with an increase in compromised physical function. ConclusionTotal body BMD seems to be a more important predictor of stiffness and physical function than specific skeletal sites BMD measures. Monitoring BMD may have important implications for osteoarthritis patients.

DXA-derived reference data for visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and advanced hip analysis (AHA) parameters spanning the entire adult lifespan are limited. The purpose of this study was to develop age-, site- and sex-specific reference data for dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) -derived body composition, trabecular bone score (TBS) and advanced hip analysis (AHA) parameters across the adult lifespan. Adults (N = 908; female: 561 and male: 347) from Calgary and the surrounding area over the age of 20 years participated in this study. Participants received DXA scans of their hip (total hip [TH] and femoral neck [FN]), lumbar spine [LS], forearm [33 % site] and total body (iDXA, GE Lunar, GE Healthcare). Areal bone mineral density (aBMD, g/cm2) was captured at all sites, and body composition variables, including lean mass, fat mass and percent fat, were analyzed from the total body scan. VAT mass was assessed from total body DXA scans. Advanced hip analysis (AHA) was performed on hip scans and trabecular bone score (TBS) on the LS scans to assess bone quality. Site- and sex-specific centile curves and tables were generated using the Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) method. Clinicians and researchers can use these Canadian reference data as a tool to assess body composition, TBS and AHA parameters across the adult lifespan.