OSTEOPOROSIS AND FALLS IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN ELDERS

对于骨质疏松症、福尔斯和骨折的流行病学知之甚少， 西班牙裔美国人 这项研究计划招募150名墨西哥裔美国人， 圣马特奥州和圣克拉拉州65-84岁的妇女 在北方加州，并将重点放在骨矿物质的流行病学 密度和福尔斯。 特别强调的是， 脆弱和环境，文化和营养因素， 低骨密度和福尔斯的原因和进展。 一 基线横断面研究将包括以下指标：骨 髋部、脊柱、桡骨远端、桡骨近端的矿物质密度， 全身钙;过去一年中福尔斯的频率（通过问卷）; 骨转换生化标志物;皮肤色素沉着;肌肉试验 力量、步态、移动性和平衡;以及（通过问卷）信息 其他各种低骨密度的假定风险因素 还有福尔斯。 研究对象将重复进行相同的测量 每年四年。 基线横断面调查将提供 目前没有关于骨矿物质密度分布的数据， 跌倒频率和其他身体虚弱的指标-- 美国妇女在这个年龄组，并对相关因素与骨 矿物质密度和跌倒妇女的特征。 纵向 成分将允许识别骨矿物质密度的预测因子 和跌倒频率，以及骨骼随时间变化的预测因素 骨密度、骨转换标志物和跌倒频率。 因此， 这项研究应该提供关于低骨矿物质频率的新信息 密度和福尔斯，以及身体虚弱和其他 墨西哥裔美国妇女的病因因素。

Little is known of the epidemiology of osteoporosis, falls and fractures in Hispanic-Americans. The proposed study would recruit 150 Mexican-American women in the age range 65-84 years from San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties in northern California, and would focus on the epidemiology of bone mineral density and of falls. Particular emphasis is given to the role of physical frailty and environmental, cultural, and nutritional factors in the causation and progression of low bone mineral density and falls. A baseline cross-sectional study would include the following measures: bone mineral density in the hip, spine, distal radius, proximal radius, and whole body calcium; frequency of falls in the past year (by questionnaire); biochemical markers of bone turnover; skin pigmentation; tests of muscle strength, gait, mobility, and balance; and (by questionnaire) information on a variety of other putative risk factors for low bone mineral density and for falls. Study subjects would have the same measurements repeated annually for four years. The baseline cross-sectional survey would provide data not currently available on the distribution of bone mineral density, fall frequency, and other indicators of physical frailty in Mexican-- American women in this age group, and on factors correlated with bone mineral density and on characteristics of women who fall. The longitudinal component would allow identification of predictors of bone mineral density and fall frequency, as well as predictors of change over time in bone mineral density; markers of bone turnover, and fall frequency. Thus, this study should provide new information on the frequency of low bone mineral density and of falls, and of the roles of physical frailty and other factors in the etiology Mexican-American women.