Bone health and predictors of 15-year mortality in a physically active population

Abstract

Objective: To analyse determinants of mortality at 15 years in a population over 60 years of age and physically active.

Methods: This is a prospective longitudinal study. After 15 years of participating in an active ageing programme, participants were contacted by telephone to verify their state of health and to determine whether in that time they had had any fractures.

Results: 561 individuals over 60 years of age were included, 82% of whom were women. Only differences in densitometric data, FRAX values and history of previous fracture at baseline characteristics were found between the group that died at 15 years and the group that remained alive. The only variables that were related to mortality risk were the basal data of the densitometric t-score (OR = .50, P < .001) and history of fracture in any location (OR = 2.44, P < .033).

Conclusions: The value of bone mineral density could be considered as a useful biomarker to calculate the risk of mortality in people over 60 years old with a physically active lifestyle.

Keywords: Bone mineral density; Densidad mineral ósea; Mortalidad; Mortality; Osteoporosis.