BACKGROUND: Low SES is associated with risk and protective factors for osteoporosis. However, there has been little examination of SES and osteoporosis in the U.S. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults aged 50 or older in 2007–2008 NHANES, examining two predictors of SES: income and food insecurity. Our outcome was osteoporosis assessed from bone scans. Adjusted regression models (overall and gender-stratified) controlled for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, calcium and vitamin D, and medication use. RESULTS: Of 2403 participants, 5% had osteoporosis. In adjusted models, there was a higher risk of osteoporosis in low-income (OR; 95% CI: 1.90;1.07–3.37) and food-insecure populations (3.48;1.43–8.48). There was a stronger association with food insecurity among women (4.91;2.40–10.0) than men (0.46;0.07–3.01). CONCLUSIONS: Income and food insecurity may have significant implications not just for immediate nutritional outcomes, but also for conditions such as osteoporosis that develop over the lifespan.
BACKGROUND: Low SES is associated with risk and protective factors for osteoporosis. However, there has been little examination of SES and osteoporosis in the U.S. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults aged 50 or older in 2007–2008 NHANES, examining two predictors of SES: income and food insecurity. Our outcome was osteoporosis assessed from bone scans. Adjusted regression models (overall and gender-stratified) controlled for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, calcium and vitamin D, and medication use. RESULTS: Of 2403 participants, 5% had osteoporosis. In adjusted models, there was a higher risk of osteoporosis in low-income (OR; 95% CI: 1.90;1.07–3.37) and food-insecure populations (3.48;1.43–8.48). There was a stronger association with food insecurity among women (4.91;2.40–10.0) than men (0.46;0.07–3.01). CONCLUSIONS: Income and food insecurity may have significant implications not just for immediate nutritional outcomes, but also for conditions such as osteoporosis that develop over the lifespan.