Establishing age-adjusted trabecular bone score curves using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in Chinese women and men: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a relatively new gray-level textural parameter that provides information on bone microarchitecture. TBS has been shown to be a good predictor of fragility fractures independent of bone density and clinical risk factors. Estimating the normal reference values of TBS in both sexes among the Chinese population is necessary to improve the clinical fracture risk assessment. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled healthy Chinese participants living in Guangzhou, China, including 1,018 men and 3,061 women (aged 20–74 years). Bone mineral density images were obtained with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning of the lumbar region (L(1–4)). Lumbar spine TBS values were calculated. The correlations between the scores and bone mineral density, age, height, and weight were calculated for men and women. A TBS reference plot was established in relation to age (20–74 years). Values 2 standard deviations below the mean score for each sex were used as the cutoff values for low-quality bone. RESULTS: The TBS (L(1–4)) was significantly higher in Chinese men than in Chinese women. The scores peaked at 25–29 years (1.47±0.08 years) in men and at 20–24 years (1.43±0.08 years) in women. According to the statistical confidence interval, in Chinese males, a TBS ≥1.39 is considered normal, a TBS between 1.31 and 1.39 indicates partially degraded microarchitecture, and a TBS ≤1.31 indicates degraded microarchitecture. In Chinese females, a TBS ≥1.35 is considered normal, a TBS between 1.27 and 1.35 indicates partially degraded microarchitecture, and a TBS ≤1.27 indicates degraded microarchitecture. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides normative reference ranges for the TBS in Chinese men and women. Chinese men with a TBS score ≤1.31 and Chinese women with a TBS score ≤1.27 are can be considered to have reduced bone microarchitecture and may be at higher risk of having osteoporosis fractures.