by Chan Yat Heung. / Thesis submitted in: December 1998. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-88). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration --- p.2 / Abstract --- p.3 / Abstract in Chinese --- p.5 / Acknowledgements --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Literature review on the prevalence of vertebral deformity --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 . --- Prevalence of vertebral deformity in women --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2. --- Prevalence of vertebral deformity in men --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Literature review on the risk factors for osteoporosis and vertebral deformity --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1. --- Dietary calcium intake --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Epidemiological studies --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Intervention studies --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Calcium intake and osteoporosis in Chinese --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2. --- Physical Activity --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Epidemiological studies --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Intervention studies --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Physical activity and osteoporosis in Chinese --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3. --- Cigarette smoking --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4. --- Alcohol consumption --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Subjects and Methods --- p.39 / Chapter 4.1. --- Objectives --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2. --- Study Subjects --- p.40 / Chapter 4.3. --- Radiology and digitization protocol --- p.41 / Chapter 4.4. --- Diagnosis of vertebral deformity --- p.43 / Chapter 4.5. --- Definition of cases and controls --- p.48 / Chapter 4.6. --- Questionnaire and measurement of risk factors --- p.49 / Chapter 4.6.1. --- Dietary calcium intake --- p.49 / Chapter 4.6.2. --- Physical activity --- p.49 / Chapter 4.6.3. --- Cigarette smoking --- p.50 / Chapter 4.6.4. --- Alcohol consumption --- p.50 / Chapter 4.7. --- Pilot study --- p.51 / Chapter 4.8. --- Statistical methods --- p.52 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Results of Prevalence study --- p.54 / Chapter 5.1 . --- Demographic characteristics --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2. --- Vertebral height and vertebral height ratio --- p.55 / Chapter 5.3. --- Distribution of deformity --- p.59 / Chapter 5.4. --- Comparison of prevalence between Chinese and Caucasian populations --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Results of study on risk factors --- p.62 / Chapter 6.1. --- Dietary calcium intake --- p.62 / Chapter 6.2. --- Physical activity --- p.63 / Chapter 6.3. --- Cigarette smoking --- p.65 / Chapter 6.4. --- Alcohol consumption --- p.67 / Chapter 6.5. --- Results of Multiple logistic regression --- p.69 / Chapter Chapter 7. --- Discussion --- p.70 / Chapter 7.1. --- Study sample --- p.70 / Chapter 7.2. --- Digitization method and definition of vertebral fracture --- p.71 / Chapter 7.3. --- Prevalence of vertebral deformity in Chinese men --- p.72 / Chapter 7.4. --- Risk factors --- p.74 / Chapter 7.4.1. --- Calcium intake --- p.74 / Chapter 7.4.2. --- Physical activity --- p.75 / Chapter 7.4.3. --- Cigarette Smoking --- p.77 / Chapter 7.4.4. --- Alcohol consumption --- p.78 / Chapter Chapter 8. --- Conclusion --- p.80 / Reference --- p.81 / Appendix --- p.89