Measurement of Bone Mineral Density from Different Race of Elderly Population in Mianyang, China

Abstract

Background: To investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and race in the different race of old population living in Mianyang, a region in West China. Methods: By dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, BMD was detected in lumbar spine, femoral neck and femoral trochanter of 5039 cases living in urban, suburban and rural areas (1895 cases of male, 3144 cases of female). BMD was also compared among different races including Han, Tibetan, Qiang and Hui. Results: In the Mianyang, whether male or female, BMD in Han was significantly higher than that in Tibetan, Qiang and Hui (P<0.05). Furthermore, BMD in Hui was also greater than that in Tibetan and Qiang while BMD in Qiang was dramatically higher than that in Tibetan (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that BMD is closely associated with race in aged people in Mianyang, China.