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Gamma-glutamyl-transferase is associated with incident hip fractures in women and men ≥ 50 years: a large population-based cohort study

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Abstract

Summary

The association of serum gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) with hip fracture risk has not been examined in women and men ≥ 50 years. We show that elevated GGT was associated with increased hip fracture risk, particularly in men. GGT could be a candidate serum marker of long-term hip fracture risk in the elderly.

Introduction

We herein examined a possible relation between serum levels of GGT and hip fracture risk in women and men aged ≥ 50 years, which has not been investigated before.

Methods

In this population-based prospective cohort study, approximately 41,000 women and nearly 33,000 men ≥ 50 years participating in a medical prevention program 1985–2005 in western Austria were followed up for the occurrence of osteoporotic hip fractures during 2003–2013. ICD-10 based discharge diagnoses for hip fracture included S72.0, S72.1, and S72.2 available from all regional hospitals. GGT-related hip fracture risk was ascertained at each participant´s first and last examination during the prevention program. In a subset of 5445 participants, alcohol consumption could be included as a covariate.

Results

In men, hip fracture risk rose significantly by 75% and 86% for every tenfold increase of GGT measured at the first and last examination, respectively, and in women, hip fracture risk rose by 22% from the last examination. Elevated GGT (≥ 36 U/l in women, ≥ 56 U/l in men) at the first examination was associated with increased hip fracture risk only in men (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.25–1.82), and at the last examination in both women (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.28) and men (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.33–1.95). Alcohol consumption had no significant influence on GGT-mediated hip fracture risk in women and men.

Conclusions

Our findings identified an association of elevated GGT and hip fracture in women and men ≥ 50 years and suggest GGT as a candidate serum marker of long-term hip fracture risk in an elderly population.

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Availability of data and material

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Elmar Stimpfl for excellent technical support, the hospitals of Vorarlberg for providing the data, and the Vorarlberg State Government.

Funding

This work was supported by the state of Vorarlberg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agency for Preventive and Social Medicine, Bregenz, Austria

    W. Brozek, H. Ulmer, G. Nagel, O. Preyer, H. Concin & E. Zitt

  2. Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    H. Ulmer

  3. Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Università Di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    A. Pompella

  4. Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

    G. Nagel

  5. Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria

    A. Leiherer & E. Zitt

  6. Private University of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Triesen, Liechtenstein

    A. Leiherer

  7. Medical Central Laboratories, Feldkirch, Austria

    A. Leiherer

  8. Department of Internal Medicine 3 (Nephrology and Dialysis), Feldkirch Academic Teaching Hospital, Feldkirch, Austria

    E. Zitt

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  1. W. Brozek
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Correspondence to W. Brozek.

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Brozek, W., Ulmer, H., Pompella, A. et al. Gamma-glutamyl-transferase is associated with incident hip fractures in women and men ≥ 50 years: a large population-based cohort study. Osteoporos Int 33, 1295–1307 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-022-06307-z

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