Structural and biomechanical basis of racial and sex differences in vertebral fragility in Chinese and Caucasians

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 1868 healthy Chinese and Caucasian women and men aged 18 to 93 years to define the structural and biomechanical basis for racial and sex differences in vertebral body (VB) fragility. VB bone mineral content (BMC), cross-sectional area (CSA), and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of the third lumbar vertebrae were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Using engineering principles, we calculated the load per unit CSA (stress), VB strength estimated from vBMD and the ratio of stress to strength (fracture risk index, FRI). Young adult Chinese women and men had a smaller VB with a higher vBMD than their Caucasian counterparts. In each race, ..