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Alcohol consumption, bone density, and hip fracture among older adults: the cardiovascular health study.

TitleAlcohol consumption, bone density, and hip fracture among older adults: the cardiovascular health study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsMukamal, KJ, Robbins, JA, Cauley, JA, Kern, LM, Siscovick, DS
JournalOsteoporos Int
Volume18
Issue5
Pagination593-602
Date Published2007 May
ISSN0937-941X
KeywordsAbsorptiometry, Photon, Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholic Beverages, Apolipoproteins E, Bone Density, Female, Femur Neck, Genotype, Hip, Hip Fractures, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, United States
Abstract<p><b>INTRODUCTION: </b>Previous studies have found inconsistent relationships of alcohol consumption with risk of hip fracture, and the importance of bone mineral density and risk of falls in mediating such a relationship has not been determined.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of adults aged 65 years and older from four U.S. communities, 5,865 participants reported their use of beer, wine, and liquor yearly. We identified cases of hip fracture unrelated to malignancy or motor vehicle accidents using hospitalization discharge diagnoses. A subgroup of 1,567 participants in two communities underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans to assess bone mineral density.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>A total of 412 cases of hip fracture occurred during an average of 12 years of follow-up. There was a significant U-shaped relationship between alcohol intake and risk of hip fracture (p quadratic 0.02). Compared with long-term abstainers, the adjusted hazard ratios for hip fracture were 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-1.00) among consumers of up to 14 drinks per week and 1.18 (95% CI, 0.77-1.81) among consumers of 14 or more drinks per week. Alcohol intake was associated with bone mineral density of the total hip and femoral neck in a stepwise manner, with approximately 5% (95% CI, 1%-9%) higher bone density among consumers of 14 or more drinks per week than among abstainers. These relationships were all similar among men and women.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Among older adults, moderate alcohol consumption has a U-shaped relationship with risk of hip fracture, but a graded positive relationship with bone mineral density at the hip.</p>
DOI10.1007/s00198-006-0287-7
Alternate JournalOsteoporos Int
PubMed ID17318666
Grant List1-Y02-HC-40205 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01- HC-15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-35129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-45133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-75150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
Y02-AG-4-0251 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States