Author(s): Veline MartÃnez, Harold Saavedra, Mayra Rojas, Juan José MartÃnez, Marisol Posada, Guillermo Guzmán
Osteoporosis is a systemic disease of the bone, which entails an increased risk
of fracture, with high impact on morbidity, mortality and costs in the health system. Several
studies have shown a relationship between muscle mass and strength with bone mineral density.
Our objective is to determine the correlation between these variables in postmenopausal
women.
Materials and Methods:
For the correlation study, 100 postmenopausal women
older than 50 years were selected randomly and a sociodemographic survey was conducted,
and muscle strength was determined by manual grip strength, which was measured with a
digital dynamometer. Bone mineral density measurements and muscle mass were obtained
with densitometry. The correlation between strength, muscle mass, and bone mineral density
was determined by a Spearman correlation.
Results:
The average age was 62.8 ± 7.48. Femur
and column bone mineral density were significantly related to the muscle mass index, weight,
and body mass index. The prevalence of fragility fracture was 17%. The bone mineral density
of the femur was lower in patients with fragile fracture, and there was a negative and significant
correlation between femur bone mineral density and skeletal muscle mass index.
Conclusion:
Bone health studies should include the study of muscle mass index and the skeletal muscle
mass index. The improvement of the muscle mass index can influence femoral and vertebral
bone mineral density with significant impact on fragility fractures. This is the first study of its
kind conducted in Colombia and South America.