1998 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 249-253
Height shortening in middle-aged and elderly persons affects evaluation of the relationship between bone mineral density(BMD)and anthropometric indices. In this study, a formula for estimating body height was established to clarify the relationship between BMD and anthropometric indices in middle-aged and elderly females. The formula was obtained from the linear regression of actual height based on the spinomalleolar distance in 115 young adult females(age:20-44y.o.). The BMDs in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and mid-radius in 131 middle-aged and elderly females(age:50-79y.o.)were measured by DXA systems(QDR-2000, DCS-600), and the relationships between anthropometric indices were investigated. The formula for the height estimation was given as estimated height(cm)=1.572 spinomalleolar distance(cm)+32.33cm. The correlation between BMD and height was decreased by using estimated height in each decade. On the other hand, the correlation between BMD and body mass index(BMI)was improved by using estimated BMI in each decade. The present findings suggested that the correction of height shortening, in addition to the study in each decade, was necessary to evaluate the relationship between BMD values and body indices in middle-aged and elderly females.
