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Z scores as a percentage. What do these readings mean, please?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Cheetah
Cheetah

I'm 72 and had a DEXA scan 3 years ago which showed osteopenia in my hips and spine. I'm due to have another scan next year. However, apart from the osteopenia, the 2015 scan showed that my age-matched bone density was 97% at the hip and 104% at the spine.

Can anyone explain what this means please? I understand this is the Z score, but can't find anything about percentages in this score and what those percentages mean. I'd like to think that, apart from the osteopenia, these results are good!

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • sirenetta
    sirenetta Cheetah

    Posted

    Hello Cheetah,

    I see what you mean, I tried doing a search and I could not find much. However, if at your age you only have osteopenia you are doing very well.

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga Cheetah

    Posted

    The Z score is the one which matches you with your age cohort, so your results are very good for your age. The t-score it the one which compares us with a healthy young person and shows the amount of bone thinning which has occurred - and we must bear in mind that we all lose bone mass as we age and a certain amount is normal.

  • Cheetah
    Cheetah

    Posted

    Thank you both very much. That's made it much clearer, Anhaga.

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