Association between passive smoking in adulthood and phalangeal bone mineral density: results from the KRAM study—the Danish Health Examination Survey 2007–2008

• Published in: Osteoporosis international 2011-12, Vol.22 (12), p.2989-2999
• Main Authors: Holmberg, T., Bech, M., Curtis, T., Juel, K., Grønbæk, M., Brixen, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry; Absorptiometry, Photon; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Body fat; Bone density; Bone Density - physiology; Bone mineral density; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data processing; Denmark - epidemiology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Endocrinology; Female; Finger; Finger Phalanges - diagnostic imaging; Fractures; Hand; Humans; Inventories; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Orthopedics; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Passive smoking; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Regression analysis; Rheumatology; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Self Report; Smoking; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - adverse effects; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00198-010-1506-9

Summary The study investigates an association between phalangeal bone mineral density (BMD) and self-reported passive smoking using data on 15,038 persons (aged 18–95 years), who underwent a BMD scan in the Danish KRAM study. BMD was significantly lower in persons exposed to long-term passive smoking in their home during adulthood. Introduction Smoking is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. This study aimed to investigate a possible association between BMD at the phalangeal bones and self-reported passive smoking. Methods The study included a cohort of 15,544 men and women aged 18–95 years, who underwent a BMD scan in the Danish KRAM study. BMD scans of the middle phalanges of the second, third and fourth digits of the non-dominant hand were performed with a compact radiographic absorptiometry system (Alara MetriScan®). Also, height, weight and body fat percentage were measured and 96.7% ( n  = 15,038) of the participants answered a self-reported questionnaire with information on passive smoking, other lifestyle factors, education, etc. The association between passive smoking and BMD was examined using multiple linear regression analysis. Results A total of 39.1% ( n  = 5,829) of the participants had been exposed to passive smoking in adulthood at home. BMD was significantly lower in subjects exposed to passive smoking, 0.343 vs. 0.331 g/cm 2 ; p