Low physical activity is related to clustering of risk factors for fracture—a 2-year prospective study in children

Abstract

Summary The study investigates the effect of physical activity (PA) on a composite score for fracture risk in pre-pubertal children. Low PA in children is related to the composite score for fracture risk and the pre-pubertal years seem to be a period when PA positively affects the score. Introduction This study evaluates if PA in children is related to clustering of risk factors for fracture. Research questions are the following: (i) What is the effect of physical activity (PA) on single traits and a composite score for fracture risk? (ii) Could this score be used to identify the level of PA needed to reach beneficial effects? Methods This prospective population-based study included 269 children, aged 7-9 years at baseline while 246 attended the 2-year follow-up. We estimated duration of PA by questionnaires and measured traits that independently predict fractures. We then calculated gender specific Z-scores for each variable. The mean Z-score of all traits was used as a composite score for fracture risk. We tested correlation between duration of PA, each trait, and the composite score and group differences between children in different quartiles of PA. Results At baseline, we found no correlation between duration of PA and any of the traits or the composite score. At follow-up, we found a correlation between PA and the composite score. Physical activity had an effect on composite score, and children in the lowest quartiles of PA had unbeneficial composite score compared to children in the other quartiles. Conclusion Low PA in children is related to clustering of risk factors for fracture, and the pre-pubertal years seem to be a period when PA positively affects the composite score.

Hearing impairment increases the risk of distal radius, hip, and spine fractures: A longitudinal follow-up study using a national sample cohort

“…Additionally, deprivation of auditory perception decreased the daily activities of living, resulting in physical inactivity [ 15 ]. This low physical activity was associated with an increased risk of fracture in children [ 19 ].…”

Association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and risk of bone fractures in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…2) Unbiased and larger epidemiological studies are required to confirm the factors associated with bone fracture occurrence in children and youth. Studies of the etiology of bone fractures suggest that some characteristics of children [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and parents [11][12][13][14][15] may be associated with an increased risk of bone fractures in children and youth.…”

Daily School Physical Activity from before to after Puberty Improves Bone Mass and a Musculoskeletal Composite Risk Score for Fracture

“…Such research is necessary as the pre-and early pubertal period is the period when 25% of adult bone mass is acquired [16]. Furthermore, since fracture risk not only depends on a single trait, a musculoskeletal composite score may better estimate the expected fracture protective effect of PA than the measurement of a single trait [17], similar to the use of a composite risk score when predicting cardiovascular events [18] or by the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) for fracture risk in the elderly [19,20]. No such composite score exists for fracture risk evaluation in children.…”