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Forearm bone mineral density in an unselected population of 2,779 men and women—The HUNT Study, Norway

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Abstract

The fracture incidence in Norway is among the highest in Europe, presumably due to osteoporosis. As part of a multipurpose health study in the county of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway (the HUNT study), a 5% randomly selected sample (n=4,646) of the population >19 years of age was invited to undergo single X-ray absorptiometry (SXA) of the forearm. A total of 1,274 men (50.5 years) and 1,505 women (49.9 years) participated (60%). The aim of the study was to describe the variation in bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of forearm BMD 2.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean value for young adults in an unselected population sample. In women the BMD remained stable until the age of 50 years, whereupon a strong decline in BMD was observed. In men, a BMD increase was observed until about the age of 40 years; the decline after the age of 65 was, however, similar to that in women. Based on age and gender-specific reference values, the age-adjusted prevalence of T-scores <−2.5 SD in women and men aged 50–69 years was 16.0% and 5.6%, respectively. In the age group of 70 years or older the prevalence was 65.8% and 30.6% for women and men, respectively. The accelerated BMD reduction in women aged 50–65 explains the higher prevalence of T-score <−2.5 SD in elderly women than in men. Further studies on bone loss and falls are required to explain the high fracture incidence in Norway.

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Acknowledgements

The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study is a collaboration between the HUNT Research Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Nord-Trøndelag County Council. The study was supported by grants from the Norwegian Women’s Public Health Association, the Norwegian Research Council, the Norwegian Osteoporosis Foundation, the association of Health and Rehabilitation and by AstraZeneca Norway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Medisinsk-teknisk senter, 7489, Trondheim, Norway

    Siri Forsmo & Berit Schei

  2. HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Verdal, Norway

    Arnulf Langhammer

  3. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Lisa Forsen

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  1. Siri Forsmo
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  2. Arnulf Langhammer
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  3. Lisa Forsen
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  4. Berit Schei
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Correspondence to Siri Forsmo.

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Forsmo, S., Langhammer, A., Forsen, L. et al. Forearm bone mineral density in an unselected population of 2,779 men and women—The HUNT Study, Norway. Osteoporos Int 16, 562–567 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-004-1726-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-004-1726-y

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