Assessment of vertebral fracture and its related risk factors by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in postmenopausal women

Abstract:

Objective：To assess the vertebral fracture by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry（DXA） and to analyze the risk factors of fragility fracture in postmenopausal women. Methods：Totally 203 postmenopausal women underwent vertebral fracture assessment （VFA） by DXA. Bone mineral density（BMD）（g/m2） at different positions was detected and the corresponding T-score（SD） was attained. All patients were grouped based on whether having vertebral fracture and the different parts of fracture. Results：Low BMD（g/m2） and T-score（SD） in patients with both thoracic fracture and thoracic and lumbar fracture were significantly lower than those without vertebral fracture（P<0.05）. The occurrence of vertebral fracture was affected by age（yr）. Conclusion：Lower BMD（g/m2） and T-score（SD） may be important predictors for thoracic fracture and thoracic and lumbar fracture，while exerts little effect on fracture of lum－bar vertebra. Age（yr），BMD（g/m２） of total hip and T-score（SD） are risk factors for vertebral fracture. BMD（g/m2） com－bined with VFA is recommended in the assessment of vertebral fracture.