Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2013 Dec;14(2):53-59.

The Correlation of Bone Mineral Density and Anemia in Korean Older Population

• Jang SJ
• Park Y
• Choi YE
• Cho KH

Abstract

Background
From several studies, low hemoglobin is found to be associated with more mineral density. This association is stronger in the elderly population. However, there is only a few studies about this relationship among Koreans. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the relationship of femur T-score and lumbar spine T-score with anemia among Koreans aged 65 years and older.
Methods
This study included Korea men and women aged 65~80 years enrolled through National Health Nutrition Survey 2008. Finally, a total of 416 participants are included in the study after excluding participants having conditions which may affect bone mineral density such as: anemia and osteoporosis or history of treatments. All the analyses are performed considering hemoglobin levels as a continuous variable and anemia as a categorical variable. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of femur and lumbar spines are examined to evaluate bone mineral density. In addition, physical measurements, health-related behaviors, serological characteristics and co-morbid diseases are investigated.
Results
Between participants without anemia and those with anemia, differences in femur T-score and lumbar spine T-score are not statistically significant in both men and women. In univariate regression analysis, hemoglobin and lumbar spine T-score shows a statistically significant correlation in men (β=0.180 P=0.009), but not in women. In multivariate regression analysis, the association of hemoglobin with femur T-score and lumbar spine T-score with anemia does not show statistical significant after adjusting for age, body mass index, activity limitation, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Conclusion
In elderly of Korea. Anemia can be not associated with osteoporosis.

Keyword

Anemia; Hemoglobin; Bone mineral density; Aged