Association between osteoporosis and low hemoglobin levels: A nested case–control study using a national health screening cohort

Abstract

An association between anemia and an increased risk of osteoporosis has been suggested. The goal of this study was to estimate the association of hemoglobin (Hb) level with osteoporosis. A total of 69,760 osteoporosis patients aged ≥ 40 years old from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort were enrolled. From an identical cohort database, 69,760 comparison participants were randomly selected. Hb levels before the onset of osteoporosis were evaluated. The association of Hb level with osteoporosis was analyzed using a conditional logistic regression model adjusted for obesity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and the Charlson comorbidity index score. Fifteen percent of the osteoporosis group and 14.17% of the comparison group had anemia. The Hb level was associated with 0.98-fold lower odds for osteoporosis (95% confidence intervals = 0.97–0.99, p < 0.001). A low Hb level was associated with a high risk of osteoporosis in the adult population. There was a consistent association between a low Hb level and osteoporosis in patients with comorbidities.