Osteoprotegerin is associated with hip fracture incidence: the Tromso Study

Int J Epidemiol. 2012 Aug;41(4):1033-9. doi: 10.1093/ije/dys063. Epub 2012 Apr 25.

Abstract

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a cytokine essential for the regulation of bone resorption, but large longitudinal studies on its relationship to fracture risk in humans are lacking. In this population-based study of 2740 men and 2857 post-menopausal women, it was examined whether serum OPG was associated with hip fracture incidence. The participants were followed for 15 years.

Methods: Baseline measurements included height, weight and serum OPG, and information about lifestyle, prevalent diseases and use of medication.

Results: Men with OPG in the highest quartile were 2.79-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-5.82] more likely to have a hip fracture during follow-up, compared with those with OPG in the lowest quartile (P-trend over OPG quartiles ≤ 0.001, after adjustments for age and other confounders). In women not using post-menopausal hormone therapy (HT), the risk of hip fracture was 1.64-fold higher (95% CI 0.94-2.86) in the highest quartile compared with the lowest OPG quartile (P-trend over OPG quartiles = 0.05). No relationship was found in post-menopausal women using HT (P-trend over OPG quartiles = 0.23).

Conclusions: In men, OPG was positively associated with the incidence of hip fracture. In post-menopausal women not using HT a similar, but weaker, relationship was found.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Density
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Hip Fractures / blood*
  • Hip Fractures / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Osteoprotegerin / blood*
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Osteoprotegerin