Comparison of differences between hip and lumbar bone mineral density in dual energy X-ray absorptiometric data

To explore the changes and regulations in T-scores of hip and lumbar vertebrae in different aged people through retrospective data analyses of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and improve their reference values. With the aid of DXA, the bone densities of hip (femoral neck) and lumbar (L1-L4) bones were measured in 3662 males and females over 45 years old. There were 9 female and 9 males groups based upon the stratifications of gender and 5-year age intervals (> 85-year-olds combined as one group). After ruling out the "single-part test" data, the T-score averages were calculated and their differences analyzed by t-test. In females, T-scores of hip and lumbar bone mineral density were basically the same before 50 years old. Significant differences existed between 51 and 75 years old females. The lumbar T-scores were lower than their hip counterparts. In some age groups, T-scores of lumbar vertebrae showed decreased bone mass while those of hip remained normal. However, T-scores of lumbar vertebrae might