Self-reported wrist fractures are associated with low bone mineral density and increased bone loss in peri- and postmenopausal women. The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)

Aim: Several studies have demonstrated an excellent validity of self-reported forearm fractures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of self-reported forearm/wrist fractures with forearm BMD and with bone loss in an unselected cohort of peri- and postmenopausal women followed for about five years. Material and methods: In 1995-97 all citizens aged >19 years (about 92,000) in the county of Nord-Trøndelag were invited to a multipurpose health survey (HUNT). About 18000 individuals were invited to forearm bone densitometry (SXA-technology, distal forearm and ultradistal radius). In 2001, a sub-sample follow-up densitometry was performed. A total of 2254 women aged 50-59 at baseline were invited to the follow-up study and 1629 women attended (72.3%). All women who reported a history of forearm fracture at baseline were excluded from further analyses (N=189). At follow-up, 58 of the remaining 1440 women (4.0%) had suffered a forearm/wrist fracture during the mean period of 4.6 years. Results: Women reporting forearm/wrist fractures had statistically significantly lower forearm BMD at baseline than the women with no fractures. A linear trend of increasing fracture risk with decreasing BMD was found (p