Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models

Abstract Background Identifying determinants of low bone mineral density (BMD) is crucial for understanding the underlying pathobiology and developing effective prevention and management strategies. Here we applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict low femoral neck BMD using standard demog...

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Main Authors: Nedhal Al-Husaini, Rozaimi Razali, Amal Al-Haidose, Mohammed Al-Hamdani, Atiyeh M. Abdallah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08726-5
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author Nedhal Al-Husaini
Rozaimi Razali
Amal Al-Haidose
Mohammed Al-Hamdani
Atiyeh M. Abdallah
author_facet Nedhal Al-Husaini
Rozaimi Razali
Amal Al-Haidose
Mohammed Al-Hamdani
Atiyeh M. Abdallah
author_sort Nedhal Al-Husaini
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Identifying determinants of low bone mineral density (BMD) is crucial for understanding the underlying pathobiology and developing effective prevention and management strategies. Here we applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict low femoral neck BMD using standard demographic and laboratory parameters. Methods Data from 4829 healthy individuals enrolled in the Qatar Biobank were studied. The cohort was split 60% and 40% for training and validation, respectively. Logistic regression algorithms were implemented to predict femoral neck BMD, and the area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate model performance. Features associated with low femoral neck BMD were subjected the statistical analysis to establish associated risk. Results The final predictive model had an AUC of 86.4% (accuracy 79%, 95%CI: 77.98–80.65%) for the training set and 85.9% (accuracy 78%, 95% CI: 75.92–80.61%) for the validation set. Sex, body mass index, age, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, and magnesium were identified as informative features for predicting femoral neck BMD. Age (odds ratio (OR) 0.945, 95%CI: 0.945–0.963, p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (OR 0.990, 95%CI: 0.986–0.995, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (OR 0.845, 95%CI: 0.767–0.931, p < 0.001), and magnesium (OR 0.136, 95%CI: 0.034–0.571, p < 0.001) were inversely associated with BMD, while BMI and creatinine were positively associated with BMD (OR 1.116, 95%CI: 1.140–1.192, p < 0.001 and OR 1.031, 95%CI: 1.022–1.039, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Several biological determinants were found to have a significant global effect on BMD with a reasonable effect size. By combining standard demographic and laboratory variables, our model provides proof-of-concept for predicting low BMD. This approach suggests that, with further validation, an ML-driven model could complement or potentially reduce the need for imaging when assessing individuals at risk for low BMD, which is an important component of fracture risk prediction. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-a7a2f20167a7482d8f70b5badf3c31a62025-08-20T02:32:05ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742025-05-012611910.1186/s12891-025-08726-5Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning modelsNedhal Al-Husaini0Rozaimi Razali1Amal Al-Haidose2Mohammed Al-Hamdani3Atiyeh M. Abdallah4Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar UniversityAbstract Background Identifying determinants of low bone mineral density (BMD) is crucial for understanding the underlying pathobiology and developing effective prevention and management strategies. Here we applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict low femoral neck BMD using standard demographic and laboratory parameters. Methods Data from 4829 healthy individuals enrolled in the Qatar Biobank were studied. The cohort was split 60% and 40% for training and validation, respectively. Logistic regression algorithms were implemented to predict femoral neck BMD, and the area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate model performance. Features associated with low femoral neck BMD were subjected the statistical analysis to establish associated risk. Results The final predictive model had an AUC of 86.4% (accuracy 79%, 95%CI: 77.98–80.65%) for the training set and 85.9% (accuracy 78%, 95% CI: 75.92–80.61%) for the validation set. Sex, body mass index, age, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, and magnesium were identified as informative features for predicting femoral neck BMD. Age (odds ratio (OR) 0.945, 95%CI: 0.945–0.963, p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (OR 0.990, 95%CI: 0.986–0.995, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (OR 0.845, 95%CI: 0.767–0.931, p < 0.001), and magnesium (OR 0.136, 95%CI: 0.034–0.571, p < 0.001) were inversely associated with BMD, while BMI and creatinine were positively associated with BMD (OR 1.116, 95%CI: 1.140–1.192, p < 0.001 and OR 1.031, 95%CI: 1.022–1.039, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Several biological determinants were found to have a significant global effect on BMD with a reasonable effect size. By combining standard demographic and laboratory variables, our model provides proof-of-concept for predicting low BMD. This approach suggests that, with further validation, an ML-driven model could complement or potentially reduce the need for imaging when assessing individuals at risk for low BMD, which is an important component of fracture risk prediction. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08726-5Bone mineral densityFemoral neckMachine learningCreatinineAlkaline phosphataseQatar biobank
spellingShingle Nedhal Al-Husaini
Rozaimi Razali
Amal Al-Haidose
Mohammed Al-Hamdani
Atiyeh M. Abdallah
Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Bone mineral density
Femoral neck
Machine learning
Creatinine
Alkaline phosphatase
Qatar biobank
title Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models
title_full Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models
title_fullStr Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models
title_short Characterizing low femoral neck BMD in Qatar Biobank participants using machine learning models
title_sort characterizing low femoral neck bmd in qatar biobank participants using machine learning models
topic Bone mineral density
Femoral neck
Machine learning
Creatinine
Alkaline phosphatase
Qatar biobank
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08726-5
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AT mohammedalhamdani characterizinglowfemoralneckbmdinqatarbiobankparticipantsusingmachinelearningmodels
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