Association Study of Cold Hypersensitivity in the Hands and Feet with Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporosis: Based on the 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Objective: This study investigated the relationships among cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF), bone mineral density (BMD), and osteoporosis prevalence.Methods: Data from 2,283 adults aged 50 years and older in the 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Participants were categorized into CHHF (n=534) and control (n=1,749) groups based on self-reported questionnaires. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Complex samples t-tests, Rao-Scott chi-square tests, general linear models, and logistic regression models were employed to assess associations after adjusting for confounders.Results: Unadjusted analyses showed that the CHHF group had significantly lower BMD at all sites, lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and higher osteoporosis prevalence (24.5% vs. 16.8%). However, after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, blood indicators, and lifestyle factors, differences in BMD were no longer significant.Conclusion: Although the CHHF group exhibited higher osteoporosis prevalence in unadjusted analyses, this association disappeared after accounting for potential confounders.