Reference microarchitectural values measured by HR-pQCT in a Franco-Swiss cohort of young adult women

Bone microarchitecture assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography varies across populations of different origin. The study presents a reference dataset of microarchitectural parameters in a homogeneous group of participants aged within 22-27 range determined by a discriminant analysis of a larger cross-sectional cohort of 339 women. Introduction High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) non-invasively measures three-dimensional bone microarchitectural parameters and volumetric bone mineral density. Previous studies established normative reference HR-pQCT datasets for several populations, but there were few data assessed in a reference group of young women with Caucasian ethnicity living in Western Europe. It is important to obtain different specific reference dataset for a valid interpretation of cortical and trabecular microarchitecture data. The aim of our study was to find the population with the most optimal bone status in order to establish a descriptive reference HR-pQCT dataset in a young and healthy normal-weight female cohort living in a European area including Geneva, Switzerland, Lyon and Saint-Etienne, France. Methods We constituted a cross-sectional cohort of 339 women aged 19-41 years with a BMI > 18 and < 30 kg/m(2). All participants had HR-pQCT measurements at both non-dominant distal radius and tibia sites. Results We observed that microarchitectural parameters begin to decline before the age of 30 years. Based on a discriminant analysis, the optimal bone profile in this population was observed between the age range of 22 to 27 years. Consequently, we considered 43 participants aged 22-27 years to establish a reference dataset with median values and percentiles. Conclusion This is the first study providing reference values of HR-pQCT measurements considering specific age bounds in a Franco-Swiss female cohort at the distal radius and tibia sites.

Automated summary

This study presents reference values of HR-pQCT measurements in a Franco-Swiss female cohort at the distal radius and tibia sites, considering specific age bounds. Microarchitectural parameters start to decline before the age of 30, with the optimal bone profile observed between the ages of 22 to 27 in this population.