Osteoporosis & bone health

The association of bone density and hip fracture risk among Asian women

Osteoporos IntPublished Retrospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Among Asian and NHW women, each unit reduction in FN-T-score was associated with ≥ two-fold higher risk of hip fracture that varied by ethnicity. Accounting for T-score differences, Asian women had lower hip fracture risk than NHW women.

Study context

Population
Women aged 60–89 years with femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) measured in 2000–2019 without prior osteoporosis treatment
Participants
54,294 vs 219,585
Exposure
Asian/PI vs non-Hispanic White (NHW) women; hip fracture risk per unit decline in FN BMD T-score
  • Asian/PIn = 54,294
  • NHWn = 219,585reference
Outcome
Incident hip fracture: BMD T-score risk gradient
Follow-up
five-year follow-up
Methodological detailsCox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age and time-updated osteoporosis therapy
  • Cox proportional hazard models
  • Adjusted for age and time-updated osteoporosis therapy

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Hip fracture per unit T-score reduction
GroupaHR per unit T-score reduction
NHW2.11 [2.03-2.20]
Chinese2.84 [2.11-3.82]
Japanese2.69 [2.01-3.60]
Filipina2.22 [1.67-2.97]
South Asian2.18 [1.19-3.99]

aHR per unit T-score reduction

NHW2.11 [2.03-2.20]
Chinese2.84 [2.11-3.82]
Japanese2.69 [2.01-3.60]
Filipina2.22 [1.67-2.97]
South Asian2.18 [1.19-3.99]

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

FN T-score ≤ −2.5 (osteoporosis)

Hip fracture incidence · five-year follow-up

OutcomeaHR
Hip fracture, Asian vs NHW (adjusted for age, T-score, therapy)Chinese, Filipina vs NHW · some attenuation after height adjustment0.2-0.3
Hip fracture, Asian vs NHW (adjusted for age, T-score, therapy)Japanese, South Asian vs NHW · some attenuation after height adjustment0.4-0.6
  • FN T-score ≤ −2.5 (osteoporosis): Native Hawaiian/PI 12.6%
  • FN T-score ≤ −2.5 (osteoporosis): South Asian 17.4%
  • FN T-score ≤ −2.5 (osteoporosis): Chinese, Filipina, Korean 22-23%
  • FN T-score ≤ −2.5 (osteoporosis): Japanese 26.7%
  • FN T-score ≤ −2.5 (osteoporosis): Vietnamese 30.5%

Original publication

The association of bone density and hip fracture risk among Asian women. Osteoporos Int. Published 22 October 2025. doi:10.1007/s00198-025-07663-2

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