Journal of Community Health
Volume 31, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 7-23

Bone health of immigrant Chinese women living in New York City (Article)

Babbar R.K.* , Handa A.B. , Lo C.-M. , Guttmacher S.J. , Shindledecker R. , Chung W. , Fong C. , Ho-Asjoe H. , Chan-Ting R. , Dixon L.B.
  • a Department of Medicine, New York Downtown Hospital, New York, NY, United States, Department of Medicine, New York Downtown Hospital, 150 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002, United States
  • b [Affiliation not available]
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
  • e Department of Medicine, New York Downtown Hospital, New York, NY, United States
  • f Chinese Community Partnership for Health, New York Downtown Hospital, New York, NY, United States
  • g Department of Medicine, New York Downtown Hospital, New York, NY, United States
  • h Center for the Study of Asian American Health, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • i Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • j Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a serious national and global public health problem, but data on bone health are limited for Asian women living in the U.S., the majority of whom are Chinese. For this study, we measured bone mineral density (BMD) by dual energy X-ray densitometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and hip region in 300 immigrant Chinese women, ages 40-90 y, living in New York City. We also collected demographic and health data, information about knowledge and care for osteoporosis, and anthropometric measures, and estimated calcium intake from the women. In our sample, 55% had osteoporosis and 38% had low bone mass (osteopenia). Older age, lower body mass index (BMI), and shorter height were associated with lower BMD at all sites. Years lived in the U.S. and number of children were also associated with lower BMD of the lumbar spine. Chinese women who emigrated from Mainland China had lower BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck than Chinese women who emigrated from Hong Kong, after adjusting for potential confounders. Both groups of immigrant women had lower BMD at all sites than a national sample of U.S. Caucasian women. Although the women in our study had generally poor knowledge about osteoporosis, most could identify at least one food rich in calcium. The large number of immigrant Chinese women in New York City with osteoporosis calls for major efforts to increase awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition in this susceptible population. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Author Keywords

Chinese women Osteoporosis Immigrant Osteopenia Bone mineral density

Index Keywords

dual energy X ray absorptiometry China immigrant Chinese Caucasian demography race difference human Health Behavior middle aged aging controlled study health status Aged Calcium bone knowledge United States Humans Asian Americans osteoporosis female osteopenia bone densitometry bone mass hip medical information calcium intake Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article patient education women's health Questionnaires adult Femur Neck Bone Density major clinical study New York City Hong Kong Emigration and Immigration anthropometry lumbar spine Lumbar Vertebrae body mass body height Bone Diseases, Metabolic Densitometry, X-Ray
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-29944433223&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-005-8186-y&partnerID=40&md5=df4ca934ba9177e08cf146e0464c3a3d
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-005-8186-y
ISSN: 00945145
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English