Shiomoto K, Babazono A, Harano Y, et al. - In the ageing population, underweight was identified to be linked with fractures, but a gender difference was evident in the effect for vertebral fractures.

• This retrospective cohort study utilized administrative claims data to analyze 24,691 older people aged ≥75 years who had health examinations in 2010 and were residing in the Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (mean observation span was 6.9±1.6 years).

• For vertebral and hip fractures, the incidence reported in this population was 16.8% and 6.5%, respectively.

• In each body mass index groups (underweight/normal weight/overweight and obese), the cumulative incidence of vertebral and hip fracture at the last observation (8 years) was 14.7%/10.4%/9.0% in men and 24.9%/23.0%/21.9% in women, and 6.3%/2.9%/2.4% in men and 14.1%/9.0%/8.1% in women, respectively, and both fractures were significantly higher in underweight groups irrespective of gender.

• Underweight was identified as a significant risk factor only in men for vertebral fractures and in both genders for hip fractures.