Interrelationship between bone aging traits and basic anthropometric characteristics

Abstract

Using plain hand radiographs, the age dependence of various bone-aging traits (bone mineral density [BMD], cortical index [CI], osteoarthritis [OA], and osseographic [OSS] scores) was evaluated to test whether the correlation among these traits is an individual- or population-based phenomenon. In addition, the effect of anthropometric features on variation of bone-aging traits was estimated. The study included 1,295 individuals from Chuvasha, Russia, 18 to 89 years. BMD was measured from the compact compartment of the middle and distal phalanges of both 3(rd) fingers. The CI of the II-IV metacarpal bones and II-IV proximal phalanges was obtained. The development of OA was based on the standard Kellgren and Lawrence grading scheme for 28 hand joints. OSS score, a surrogate measure that takes into account different kinds of bone changes, was also obtained for each individual. Body weight and height, eight skinfold thicknesses on the trunk and extremities, and breadths of the long bones were measured. Sex-based univariate analyses and multivariate statistical analysis showed the following: 1) Age dependence was defined more strongly in "OA-linked" compared to "osteoporosis (OP)-linked" traits; 2) While "OP-linked" bone-aging traits correlated with age differently between sexes, "OA-linked" traits did not; 3) The strong interrelationship between OA-linked and OP-linked traits in both sexes became very weak and statistically insignificant (P > 0.10) after adjustment for age. Thus, OA and OP conditions in the same individual develop independently and probably reflect different underlying physiological mechanisms. 4) Anthropometric characteristics were significantly correlated with bone-aging traits, but correlations were low (r < 0.20). Thus, the contribution of anthropometric characteristics to the rate and pattern of bone aging of the hand was to relatively small.

Are bone losers distinguishable from bone formers in a skeletal series? Implications for adult age at death assessment methods

“…Bone mass assessed on the radiographs of the second metacarpal is more likely to explain our negative results. Considering this particular point, our study is comparable only with the study of Kalichman et al (2002). These authors used CI and roentgenographic densitometry of hand bones to assess bone loss.…”

“…Radiogrammetry remains an important research tool in epidemiological studies on living populations (e.g. Crespo et al, 1998;Kalichman et al, 2002Kalichman et al, , 2005Maggio et al, 1997;Montalban Sanchez et al, 2001;Haara et al, 2006), but recently, it has also been used in studies of cortical bone loss in archaeological human remains to assess the probable prevalence of osteoporosis in the past (Mays, 2000(Mays, , 2001(Mays, , 2006. X-ray equipment is available to most osteologists (Mays, 1996); thus, this method is also more convenient to use in osteological research.…”

“…Osteoarthritis and increased bone loss may develop independently in an individual (Kalichman et al, 2002) and, it is well recognized that bone loss and osteoarthritis are both common in elderly patients (Cooper et al, 1991;Dequeker, 1997;Sandini et al, 2005;Sowers et al, 1991). Indeed, in several studies (Hochberg et al, 2004;Iwamoto et al, 2002;Hulet et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2002), patients with low bone density also had osteoarthritis.…”

“…But radiogrammetry on the second metacarpal is proved to be a relevant diagnostic tool in osteoporosis (Boonen et al, 2005;Crespo et al, 1998;Haara et al, 2006) and loss of cortical bone plays an important role in increasing bone fragility (Boyce and Bloebaum, 1993). Besides, some studies using DXA (Drees et al, 2005a, b;Hochberg et al, 1991Hochberg et al, , 1994Hochberg et al, , 1995Hochberg et al, , 2004Hulet et al, 2002;Kalichman et al, 2002;Ohtsuka et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2002) could not confirm the inverse relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.…”

Digit ratio and laterality indices: the Chuvashian study

“…Th e sample was described in detail elsewhere [10,12]. Th e participants of the study were randomly chosen volunteers with similar living, economic, and professional conditions.…”