Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle and bone mineral density in young adults

Objectives This study investigates the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle factors, and their impact on bone mineral density in the radius forearm bone and the total bone mineral content in young adults from Slovakia.Methods We assessed 773 Slovak young adults aged 18 to 30 years, divided into subgroups on their pandemic status. Bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed by the QUS device (Sunlight MiniOmni (TM)), and bone mineral content (BMC) and fat mass (FM) were measured by InBody 770 bioimpedance analyzer. Finally, linear regression analysis tested the associations.Results Statistically significant lower speed of sound (SOS) along the length of the forearm radius bone and Z-score values was determined in participants during the COVID-19 pandemic than before it, and statistically significant lower BMC values were observed in the male group during COVID-19 than beforehand. Regression analysis confirmed the negative pandemic effect in the following indices: SOS (p < .001 for women and p = .035 for men), Z-score (p < .001 for women and p = .003 for men), and BMC (p = .024 for men). Vitamin D was a further significant SOS predictor in women at p = .029, but this association was not detected in men. In contrast, the significant male BMC predictors were pandemic presence (p = .028), physical activity (p = .028), and fat mass percentage (p = .001).Conclusions Significant COVID-19 pandemic effects on bone tissue were determined on bone mass density in the radius forearm bone and the total bone mineral content. These effects establish that the pandemic had a negative impact on both their bone quality and health.