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The associations between QCT-based vertebral bone measurements and prevalent vertebral fractures depend on the spinal locations of both bone measurement and fracture

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Abstract

Summary

We examined how spinal location affects the relationships between quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-based bone measurements and prevalent vertebral fractures. Upper spine (T4–T10) fractures appear to be more strongly related to bone measures than lower spine (T11–L4) fractures, while lower spine measurements are at least as strongly related to fractures as upper spine measurements.

Introduction

Vertebral fracture (VF), a common injury in older adults, is most prevalent in the mid-thoracic (T7–T8) and thoracolumbar (T12–L1) areas of the spine. However, measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) are typically made in the lumbar spine. It is not clear how the associations between bone measurements and VFs are affected by the spinal locations of both bone measurements and VF.

Methods

A community-based case–control study includes 40 cases with moderate or severe prevalent VF and 80 age- and sex-matched controls. Measures of vertebral BMD, strength (estimated by finite element analysis), and factor of risk (load:strength ratio) were determined based on QCT scans at the L3 and T10 vertebrae. Associations were determined between bone measures and prevalent VF occurring at any location, in the upper spine (T4–T10), or in the lower spine (T11–L4).

Results

Prevalent VF at any location was significantly associated with bone measures, with odds ratios (ORs) generally higher for measurements made at L3 (ORs = 1.9–3.9) than at T10 (ORs = 1.5–2.4). Upper spine fracture was associated with these measures at both T10 and L3 (ORs = 1.9–8.2), while lower spine fracture was less strongly associated (ORs = 1.0–2.4) and only reached significance for volumetric BMD measures at L3.

Conclusions

Closer proximity between the locations of bone measures and prevalent VF does not strengthen associations between bone measures and fracture. Furthermore, VF etiology may vary by region, with VFs in the upper spine more strongly related to skeletal fragility.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01AR053986, R01AR/AG041398, T32AG023480, and F31AG041629) and by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Framingham Heart Study (NIH/NHLBI Contract N01-HC-25195). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the NIH.

Conflicts of interest

DLK is an employee of and has equity interest in O.N. Diagnostics; TMK has equity interest in O.N. Diagnostics; DPK has served as a consultant for Amgen, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Merck, and has received grant funding from Amgen and Merck. All other authors state they have nothing to disclose.

Funding support

NIH (R01AR053986, R01AR/AG041398, T32AG023480, and F31AG041629) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Framingham Heart Study (NIH/NHLBI Contract N01-HC-25195).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, RN115, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    D. E. Anderson, B. T. Allaire, A. G. Bruno & M. L. Bouxsein

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    D. E. Anderson & M. L. Bouxsein

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    S. Demissie

  4. Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program, Cambridge, MA, USA

    A. G. Bruno

  5. ON Diagnostics, Berkeley, CA, USA

    D. L. Kopperdahl & T. M. Keaveny

  6. Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

    T. M. Keaveny

  7. Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA

    D. P. Kiel

  8. Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Division of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    D. P. Kiel

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  1. D. E. Anderson
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  8. M. L. Bouxsein
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Correspondence to M. L. Bouxsein.

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Anderson, D.E., Demissie, S., Allaire, B.T. et al. The associations between QCT-based vertebral bone measurements and prevalent vertebral fractures depend on the spinal locations of both bone measurement and fracture. Osteoporos Int 25, 559–566 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2452-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2452-0

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