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Background/objectives: Bone mineral density (BMD) reference data exist for U.S. White, Black, and Hispanic (Mexican American) populations but not for U.S. Asians. Few studies have compared BMD findings among different U.S. Asian ethnicities., Design: Retrospective observational study., Setting: Large northern California healthcare system., Participants: Asian and White women aged 50 to 79 years with BMD testing from 1998 to 2017 excluding those with estrogen or osteoporosis treatment, recent fracture, or select disorders affecting skeletal health., Measurements: Femoral neck (FN)-BMD and height data., Methods: Differences in FN-BMD were examined by ethnicity and age, comparing Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese women and non-Hispanic White women. Differences in BMD were also examined after adjustment for height., Results: There were 37,224 Asian women (including 11,147 Filipino, 10,648 Chinese, and 2,519 Japanese) and 115,318 non-Hispanic White women. Mean height was similar among the Asian subgroups and about 6 to 8 cm lower than Whites. Mean FN-BMDs differed by less than 3% for Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese and all were lower than Whites, with smaller Asian-White differences among younger women (<3%; ages 50-59) and larger differences among older women (6-8%; ages 65-79). Adjusting FN-BMD for height reduced White-Asian differences by about 30% to 40%., Conclusion: Mean FN-BMD and height for Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese women were similar but consistently lower than White women, especially among older women. Although Asian-White BMD differences were substantially attenuated after height adjustment; some differences persisted for older women. Future studies should investigate potential age-cohort effects and the extent to which these BMD differences influence fracture risk and clinical care., (© 2020 The American Geriatrics Society.)

Purpose: We assessed bone mineral density (BMD) change with aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment in a contemporary cohort of women with breast cancer treated in Kaiser Permanente Northern California., Methods: Percent and estimated annual percent changes in BMD at the total hip and lumbar spine were examined in 676 women receiving AI therapy who had two serial BMD reports available (at least 1 year apart) before and after AI initiation (N = 317) or during continued AI therapy (N = 359). BMD changes were examined at the total hip and lumbar spine and compared by age and clinical subgroups., Results: Women experienced BMD declines after AI initiation or continued therapy, with median annual percent change - 1.2% (interquartile range, IQR - 2.4 to - 0.1%) at the hip and - 1.0% (IQR - 2.3 to 0.1%) at the spine after AI initiation, and - 1.1% (IQR - 2.4 to 0.1%) at the hip and - 0.9% (IQR - 2.4 to 0.5%) at the spine during continued therapy. Higher levels of bone loss were observed among younger (< 55 years) compared with older (≥ 75 years) women at the hip (- 1.6% vs. - 0.8%) and at the spine (- 1.5% vs. - 0.5%) after AI initiation, and at the hip (- 1.4% vs. - 1.2%) and at the spine (- 2.4% vs. - 0.001%) during continued therapy., Conclusions: Small but consistent declines in total hip and lumbar spine BMD were present in breast cancer patients following AI therapy initiation or continued AI therapy. Although the overall rates of osteoporosis were low, greater estimated levels of annual bone loss were evident among women < 55 years.

Context: Low levels of serum 25 Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] have been linked to greater fracture risk in older women., Objective: This study aimed to determine whether higher 25(OH)D is associated with slower loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and lower fracture risk during the menopausal transition., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective cohort study at five clinical centers in the United States. Mean age was 48.5 ± 2.7 years. The fracture analysis included 124 women with an incident traumatic fracture, 88 with incident nontraumatic fracture, and 1532 women without incident fractures; average followup was 9.5 years. BMD analysis included 922 women with a documented final menstrual period., Main Outcome Measures: Serum 25(OH)D was measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry at the third annual clinic visit. BMD was measured and incident fractures ascertained at each annual visit., Results: The mean 25(OH)D was 21.8 ng/mL; seven-hundred two (43%) of the women had 25(OH)D values <20 ng/mL. There was no significant association between 25(OH)D and traumatic fractures. In multivariate adjusted hazards models, the hazard ratio (HR) for nontraumatic fractures (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 0.72 (0.54-0.96) for each 10-ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D. Comparing women whose 25(OH)D was ≥20 vs <20 ng/mL, the HR (95% CI) for fracture was 0.54 (0.32-0.89). Changes in lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density across menopause were not significantly associated with serum 25(OH)D level., Conclusion: Serum 25(OH)D levels are inversely associated with nontraumatic fracture in mid-life women. Vitamin D supplementation is warranted in midlife women with 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/mL.

Purpose: There is limited data pertaining to osteoporotic fractures among North American women of South Asian (SA) descent. This study examines fracture incidence and risk factors among post-menopausal SA, Chinese and White women undergoing mineral density (BMD) testing within a large healthcare organization in Northern California., Methods: Using data from a retrospective study of women aged 50-85 years with femoral neck BMD measured between 1997 and 2003, we identified a subset of women of SA race and an age-matched subgroup of Chinese (1:5) and White (1:10) women and examined rates of incident wrist, humerus and hip fractures up to 10 years following BMD. Clinical and demographic risk factors were identified using health plan databases. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of incident fractures., Results: The study cohort included 449 SA, 2245 Chinese and 4490 White women, with an average age of 58.4 ± 6.1 years. The prevalence of femoral neck osteoporosis was higher among SA (8.9%) compared to White (6.5%) women and tended to be lower than Chinese (11.9%) women. More SA (7.1%) and White (9.6%) women had prior fracture compared to Chinese women (4.5%) and racial differences in smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, glucocorticoid use and hormone replacement therapy were seen. During a median of 8.4 years follow-up, wrist fracture incidence was similar among SA and White women (286 and 303 per 100,000 person-years, respectively) but significantly lower among Chinese women (130 per 100,000 person-years). In multivariable analyses, lower BMD, prior fracture and White and SA race (compared to Chinese race), were associated with a higher relative rate of wrist fracture. Lower BMD, prior fracture, older age and White but not SA race were also associated with a higher relative rate of non-vertebral (wrist, humerus or hip) fractures., Conclusions: Post-menopausal South Asian women differed from Chinese and White women with respect to prevalence of femoral neck osteoporosis, certain risk factors and site of osteoporotic fracture. These findings support the need for more studies examining fracture risk and outcomes specific to SA women residing in the U.S. to inform clinical decisions relevant to fracture risk., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Loss of ovarian function has a profound impact on female skeletal health. Bone mineral density findings from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation demonstrate an accelerated rate of bone loss during the menopausal transition. The greatest reduction occurs in the year before the final menstrual period and the first 2 years thereafter. Clinical management includes maintenance of adequate dietary calcium and vitamin D intake, attention to modifiable risk factors, and osteoporosis screening. Indications, benefits, and risks of pharmacologic osteoporosis therapy should be assessed individually; there are currently no established guidelines addressing the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in perimenopausal women.

Context: Rates of bone loss across the menopause transition and factors associated with variation in menopausal bone loss are poorly understood., Objective: Our objective was to assess rates of bone loss at each stage of the transition and examine major factors that modify those rates., Design, Setting, and Participants: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 1902 African-American, Caucasian, Chinese, or Japanese women participating in The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Women were pre- or early perimenopausal at baseline., Outcome Measure: We assessed bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and total hip across a maximum of six annual visits., Results: There was little change in BMD during the pre- or early perimenopause. BMD declined substantially in the late perimenopause, with an average loss of 0.018 and 0.010 g/cm2.yr from the spine and hip, respectively (P<0.001 for both). In the postmenopause, rates of loss from the spine and hip were 0.022 and 0.013 g/cm2.yr, respectively (P<0.001 for both). During the late peri- and postmenopause, bone loss was approximately 35-55% slower in women in the top vs. the bottom tertile of body weight. Apparent ethnic differences in rates of spine bone loss were largely explained by differences in body weight., Conclusions: Bone loss accelerates substantially in the late perimenopause and continues at a similar pace in the first postmenopausal years. Body weight is a major determinant of the rate of menopausal BMD loss, whereas ethnicity, per se, is not. Healthcare providers should consider this information when deciding when to screen women for osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVES: Bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk calculators (eg, the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool [FRAX]) guide primary prevention care in postmenopausal women. BMD scores use non-Hispanic White (NHW) reference data for T-score classification, whereas FRAX incorporates BMD, clinical risk factors, and population differences when calculating risk. This study compares findings among Asian, Black, and NHW women who underwent osteoporosis screening in a US health care system. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: Asian, Black, and NHW women aged 65 to 75 years who underwent BMD testing (with no recent fracture, osteoporosis therapy, metastatic cancer, multiple myeloma, metabolic bone disorders, or kidney replacement therapy) were compared across the following measures: femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD) T-score (normal --1, osteoporosis --2.5), high FRAX 10-year hip fracture risk (FRAX-Hip 3%), FRAX risk factors, and diabetes status. RESULTS: Among 3640 Asian women, 23.8% had osteoporosis and 8.7% had FRAX-Hip scores of at least 3% (34.5% among those with osteoporosis). Among 11,711 NHW women, 12.3% had osteoporosis and 17.2% had FRAX-Hip scores of at least 3% (84.8% among those with osteoporosis). Among 1711 Black women, 68.1% had normal FN-BMD, 4.1% had BMD-defined osteoporosis, and 1.8% had FRAX-Hip scores of at least 3% (32.4% among those with osteoporosis). Fracture risk factors differed by group. Diabetes was 2-fold more prevalent in Black and Asian (35% and 36%, respectively) vs NHW (16%) women. CONCLUSIONS: A large subset of Asian women have discordant BMD and FRAX scores, presenting challenges in osteoporosis management. Furthermore, FN-BMD and especially FRAX scores identified few Black women at high fracture risk warranting treatment. Studies should examine whether fracture risk assessment can be optimized in understudied racial minority populations, particularly when findings are discordant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Bone mineral density (BMD) testing and fracture risk calculation help clinicians assess fracture risk and counsel patients. However, predicted fracture risks and outcomes for US East Asian individuals remain understudied. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Using standardized clinical profiles for East Asian women aged 70 years, fracture probabilities were estimated using the US Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) version 4.1 and corresponding FRAX tools for East Asian countries. Next, clinical and BMD data from 3785 US Asian women aged 65 to 74 years were used to estimate 10-year hip fracture risk (US-Asian FRAX-v3.1) in comparison with actual observed 10-year hip fracture risk (Kaplan-Meier product limit estimate). RESULTS: For the same patient profile entered in the US-Asian FRAX and country-specific FRAX, the calculated 10-year hip fracture probability varied. Compared with the US-Asian FRAX calculator, the estimate was 2-fold higher using the Taiwan FRAX and Hong Kong FRAX, somewhat higher using the South Korea FRAX and Japan FRAX, and similar using the China FRAX. Among 3785 US Asian women (mean [SD] age, 69 [3] years), 23 experienced a hip fracture during a median follow-up of 6.8 years. Their observed 10-year hip fracture risk was 1.5% (95% CI, 0.8%-2.7%), and their median (interquartile range) predicted fracture probability (US-Asian FRAX-v3.1) was 1.1% (0.6%-2.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Country-specific FRAX estimates varied between the United States and East Asian countries. For US Asian women, the US FRAX--predicted hip fracture probabilities were in the lower range of observed risk. Although these findings support the use of the US-Asian FRAX for hip fracture risk assessment in US East Asian women, further studies are needed, including the examination of Asian subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bisphosphonate (BP) therapy has been associated with atypical femur fracture (AFF). However, the threshold of treatment duration leading to increased AFF risk is unclear. In a retrospective cohort of older women initiating BP, we compared the AFF risk associated with treatment for at least three years to the risk associated with treatment less than three years.Methods: We used observational data from a large population of female members of an integrated healthcare system who initiated oral BP during 2002-2014. Women were retrospectively followed for incident AFF confirmed by radiologic adjudication. Demographic data, pharmacologic exposures, comorbidity, bone density, and fracture history were ascertained from electronic health records. Inverse probability weighting was used to estimate risk differences comparing the cumulative incidence (risk) of AFF if women discontinued BP within three years to the cumulative incidence of AFF if women continued BP for three or more years, adjusting for potential time-dependent confounding by the aforementioned factors.Results: Among 87,820 women age 45-84 years who initiated BP (mean age 68.6, median T-score - 2.6, 14% with prior major osteoporotic fracture), 16,180 continued BP for three or more years. Forty-six confirmed AFFs occurred during follow-up in the two groups. AFF-free survival was greater for BP treatment < 3 years compared to treatment ≥3 years (p = 0.004 comparing areas under survival curves). At five years, the risk of AFF was 27 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, CI: 8-46) if women received BP treatment < 3 years and 120 per 100,000 (95% CI: 56-183) if women received BP treatment ≥3 years (risk difference 93 per 100,000, 95% CI: 30-160). By ten years, the risks were 27 (95% CI: 8-46) and 363 (95% CI: 132-593) per 100,000 for BP treatment < 3 and ≥ 3 years, respectively (risk difference 336 per 100,000, 95% CI: 110-570).Conclusions: Bisphosphonate treatment for 3 or more years was associated with greater risk of AFF than treatment for less than 3 years. Although AFFs are uncommon among BP-treated women, this increased risk should be considered when counseling women about long-term BP use. Future studies should further characterize the dose-response relationship between BP duration and incident AFF and identify patients at highest risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context The association between bone mineral density (BMD) and breast arterial calcification (BAC) remains poorly understood and controversial. Objective The objective of this article is to examine the association between BMD and BAC in a large cohort of postmenopausal women undergoing routine mammography. Design A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a multiethnic cohort was performed. Setting The setting for this analysis is an integrated health care delivery system in Northern California in the United States. Patients A total of 1273 women age 60 to 79 years (mean age, 67 years) were recruited within 12 months of screening mammography. Main outcome measure A BAC score (mg) was obtained from digital mammograms using a novel densitometry method. BAC presence was defined as a BAC score greater than 0 mg, and severe BAC as a BAC score greater than 20 mg. Results Overall, 53% of women had osteopenia and 21% had osteoporosis. The prevalence of BAC greater than 0 mg was 29%, 30%, and 29% among women with normal BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis, respectively (P  = 0.98). The prevalence of BAC greater than 20 mg was 5%, 3%, and 5% among women with normal BMD, osteopenia and osteoporosis, respectively (P  = .65). The odds ratios (ORs) of BAC greater than 0 mg vs BAC = 0 mg after multivariable adjustment were 1.09 (95% CI, 0.81-1.48; P  = .54) for osteopenia and 0.99 (95% CI, 0.69-1.48; P  = .98) for osteoporosis. The adjusted ORs for BAC greater than 20 mg vs BAC 20 mg or less were 1.03 (95% CI, 0.52-2.01; P  = .93) for osteopenia and 1.89 (95 CI, 0.81-4.47; P  = .14) for osteoporosis. Conclusion Our findings do not support an association of either osteopenia or osteoporosis with BAC presence or severity among postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: There is limited data pertaining to osteoporotic fractures among North American women of South Asian (SA) descent. This study examines fracture incidence and risk factors among post-menopausal SA, Chinese and White women undergoing mineral density (BMD) testing within a large healthcare organization in Northern California. Methods: Using data from a retrospective study of women aged 50–85years with femoral neck BMD measured between 1997 and 2003, we identified a subset of women of SA race and an age-matched subgroup of Chinese (1:5) and White (1:10) women and examined rates of incident wrist, humerus and hip fractures up to 10years following BMD. Clinical and demographic risk factors were identified using health plan databases. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of incident fractures. Results: The study cohort included 449 SA, 2245 Chinese and 4490 White women, with an average age of 58.4±6.1years. The prevalence of femoral neck osteoporosis was higher among SA (8.9%) compared to White (6.5%) women and tended to be lower than Chinese (11.9%) women. More SA (7.1%) and White (9.6%) women had prior fracture compared to Chinese women (4.5%) and racial differences in smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, glucocorticoid use and hormone replacement therapy were seen. During a median of 8.4years follow-up, wrist fracture incidence was similar among SA and White women (286 and 303 per 100,000 person-years, respectively) but significantly lower among Chinese women (130 per 100,000 person-years). In multivariable analyses, lower BMD, prior fracture and White and SA race (compared to Chinese race), were associated with a higher relative rate of wrist fracture. Lower BMD, prior fracture, older age and White but not SA race were also associated with a higher relative rate of non-vertebral (wrist, humerus or hip) fractures. Conclusions: Post-menopausal South Asian women differed from Chinese and White women with respect to prevalence of femoral neck osteoporosis, certain risk factors and site of osteoporotic fracture. These findings support the need for more studies examining fracture risk and outcomes specific to SA women residing in the U.S. to inform clinical decisions relevant to fracture risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]