Assessing the Impact of Anthropometric Measurements on Osteoporosis Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Aim: This study evaluates various anthropometric measurements, including BMI, Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), Conicity Index (C-index), and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), to determine their association with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Material and Method: In this cross-sectional study, 304 postmenopausal women aged 45-75 years from a gynecology and menopause clinic participated. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to assess Bone Mineral Density (BMD). Anthropometric measurements (waist circumference, hip circumference) were recorded, and indices (BMI, WHR, WHtR, C-index, VAI) were calculated. Demographic and medical histories were collected through questionnaires. Results: BMI showed a positive association with lumbar spine (β = 0.503, p = 0.001) and femoral neck T-scores (β = 0.413, p = 0.004). WHR (β = 0.256, p = 0.002) was positively associated with BMD, while C-index (β = -0.455, p = 0.001) was negatively correlated with femoral neck T-scores. Lower BMI and WHtR values were found predictive for osteoporosis according to the ROC curve analysis. While BMI was found as the strongest predictor, VAI did not significantly differentiate between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: For assessment of osteoporosis risk in postmenopausal women; anthropometric indices like CI, WHR, and WHtR may be combined with BMI. In populations with different body compositions, these measures in clinical practice can improve osteoporosis screening and management.