Distal Forearm Bone Mineral Density Among Hill Tribes in the Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a major public health issue in several countries worldwide because it increases healthcare costs, and is a risk for mortality. There have been several studies that have examined BMD among the various Thai people and the regions that they inhabit. Objective: This study examined the distal forearm Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in men and women over 40 years of age among members of various Karen hill-tribes located in the Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Methods: Two hundred and sixty-two subjects (180 women, 82 men), ranging from 40 to 83 years old were recruited in this study. The non-dominant distal forearm bone mineral density was assessed by using peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (pDEXA). Results: The results showed that the BMD were 0.530 ± 0.065, 0.508 ± 0.087, 0.461 ± 0.098, and 0.438 ± 0.124 g/cm2 for men age 40-49 years, age 50-59 years, age 60-69 years, and ages 70-83 years, respectively. For women, the BMD were 0.392 ± 0.051, 0.337 ± 0.063, 0.232 ± 0.065, and 0.212 ± 0.069 g/cm2 among women age 40-49 years, age 50-59 years, age 60-69 years, and ages 70-83 years, respectively. BMD had decreased in post-menopause as a function of duration time after menopause. Conclusion: We determined the prevalence of osteoporosis of men and women of Karen hill-tribes in the Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. These findings provided important information regarding bone health in Karen hill-tribes for any healthcare planning done in the immediate future.

Preliminary study of distal forearm bone mineral density in residents of Doi Lo District: Observation and comparison with Mae Chaem, and Omkoi Districts, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

“…Our data was compared to previously reports. 18 The current study found incremental decreases in the distal forearm BMD and incrementally decreases took place in the T-scores when age-group increased. The current results were similar to the studies that were conducted by Thumvijit et al The female BMD distal forearm plotted against age, BMI, height, and weight are shown in Figure 2.…”

“…We also compared the data from Doi Lo District with data obtained from Mae Chaem and Omkoi Districts which are located in the same province of Chiang Mai, Thailand. For the female group, T-scores from Doi Lo district population at 40-49 (years) was similar to Mae Chaem 19 and Omkoi Districts 18 whereas T-scores from Doi Lo District population at 50-59 years and 60-69 years were higher than Mae Chaem 19 and Omkoi Districts. 18 For the male group, T-scores from the Doi Lo District population was less than in Mae Chaem 19 but were higher than the Omkoi District for all agegroups.…”

“…Table 5 shows the linear correlation analysis between distal forearm BMD with age, height, and weight in females and males using a current study and one done by Thumvijit et al 2022, 19 Sriburee et al 2019 18 and Tungjai et al 2017. 20 The current study was compared to that study.…”

“…BMD data for the distal forearm in Mae Chaem District and Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, were collected from earlier reports. [18][19][20]…”

“…Current study Thumvijit et al 19 Sriburee et al 18 Current study Sriburee et al 18 Tungjai et al 20 Distal forearm BMD (Y-axis) Age (X-axis)…”