The association of loneliness with bone mineral density, osteoporosis, osteopenia, fall, and sarcopenia among older adults: results from Mr. and Ms. Os (Hong Kong) study
Study context
- Population
- Community-dwelling older Chinese adults in the Mr. OS and Ms. OS Hong Kong cohorts466 in longitudinal analyses
- Participants
- 1,053 adults
- Exposure
- Severe loneliness vs absence of loneliness
- Outcome
- BMD, osteoporosis, osteopenia, falls and sarcopenia
Methodological detailscross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, community-dwelling older Chinese adults, adjusted regression models
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses
- Community-dwelling older Chinese adults
- Adjusted regression models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Musculoskeletal outcomes at baseline:
- Cross-sectional
- Adjusted
Severe loneliness vs Absence of lonelinessEstimate (95% CI)
vs those without either condition
OR (osteoporosis) 3.278(1.187–9.051)
vs those without either condition
OR (osteopenia) 2.471(1.303–4.684)
- Musculoskeletal outcomes at baseline (cross-sectional, adjusted)
- β (hip bone mineral density (BMD)) −0.031 (95% CI −0.053 to −0.008)
- Musculoskeletal outcomes at baseline (cross-sectional, adjusted)
- β (femoral neck BMD) −0.027 (95% CI −0.047 to −0.006)
- Each unit increase in emotional loneliness score associated with lower hip and femoral neck BMD and increased odds of osteoporosis and osteopenia
- P < 0.05
- Loneliness not cross-sectionally associated with falls or sarcopenia
- P > 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive SARC-F (≥ 4) at follow-up (longitudinal) · follow-up (4 years)Adjusted for baseline level and covariates | 2.302 (1.024–5.177) | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
- Positive SARC-F (≥ 4) at follow-up (longitudinal) — Higher social loneliness scores, OR
- 1.340 (95% CI 1.076, 1.667)
Falls at follow-up (longitudinal)
- Loneliness did not significantly predict falls after full adjustment
Original publication
The association of loneliness with bone mineral density, osteoporosis, osteopenia, fall, and sarcopenia among older adults: results from Mr. and Ms. Os (Hong Kong) study. Osteoporos Int. Published 18 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →