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Growth in childhood predicts hip fracture risk in later life

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Abstract

Summary

The incidence of hip fracture was estimated in 6,370 women born in Helsinki between 1934 and 1944. Women in the lowest quarter of adiposity gain had an 8.2-fold increase in hip fracture risk compared with those in the highest quarter (p < 0.001). These data point to a relationship between childhood growth and fracture risk during later life.

Introduction

Previous findings show that discordance between childhood increase in height and weight is associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures during later life.

Methods

We studied 6,370 women born in Helsinki between 1934 and 1944. Each woman’s birth weight and length at birth was recorded, as well as her height and weight through childhood. We identified the occurrence of hip fracture through the National Finnish Hospital discharge register.

Results

There were 49 hip fractures in the 6,370 women over 187,238 person-years of follow-up. Hip fracture was associated with increasing Z-scores for height between 1 and 12 years, not matched by a corresponding increase in weight. Therefore, reduction in the Z-score for body mass index was associated with increased risk of hip fracture. Women in the lowest quarter of change in Z-scores for body mass index had an 8.2-fold increase in hip fracture risk (95% CI 1.9 to 35), compared with those in the highest quarter (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Thinness in childhood is a risk factor for hip fracture in later life. This could be a direct effect of low fat mass on bone mineralization, or represent the influence of altered timing of pubertal maturation.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council of Great Britain, the Academy of Finland, British Heart Foundation, Finnish Diabetes Foundation, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Finska Läkaresällskapet, Foundation for Pediatric Research, Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation, Juho Vainio Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation and the NIHR BRU, University of Oxford.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    M. K. Javaid, C. Osmond, D. J. P. Barker & C. Cooper

  2. NIHR Musculoskeletal BRU, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    M. K. Javaid & C. Cooper

  3. Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, PL 20, 00014, Helsingin yliopisto, Finland

    J. G. Eriksson

  4. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, PL 30, 00271, Helsinki, Finland

    J. G. Eriksson & E. Kajantie

  5. Vaasa Central Hospital, Sandviksgatan 2-4, 65130, Vaasa, Finland

    J. G. Eriksson

  6. Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, PB 63, 00014, Helsingfors Universitet, Finland

    J. G. Eriksson

  7. Unit of General Practice, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029, HUS, Finland

    J. G. Eriksson

  8. Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    E. Kajantie

  9. Vaasa Health Care Centre, Vaasa, Finland

    T. Forsén

Authors
  1. M. K. Javaid
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  2. J. G. Eriksson
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  3. E. Kajantie
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  4. T. Forsén
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  5. C. Osmond
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  6. D. J. P. Barker
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  7. C. Cooper
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Cooper.

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Javaid, M.K., Eriksson, J.G., Kajantie, E. et al. Growth in childhood predicts hip fracture risk in later life. Osteoporos Int 22, 69–73 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1224-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1224-3

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