Identification of fast bone losers using high precision pQCT in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone fragility and increased fracture risk. The annual rate of bone loss is generally around 1-2%, but can be as high as 3-5% in the pre- and post-menopausal period. The identification of fast bone losers in pre- and post-menopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong is discussed. Baseline measurements between pre- and post-menopausal women show that the annual bone loss rate of trabecular bone is almost 2.5 fold faster than the cortical bone. The follow-up data from 53 subjects show that one-third of the post-menopausal women belong to the fast bone losers.