Which statement about Dexa Z-score is true based on the given material?

Which statement about Dexa Z-score is true based on the given material?

• A. It is compared to another patient in the same age group
• B. It is compared to a 30-year-old reference
• C. It is always higher than a T-score
• D. It is only used in pediatric patients

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a Dexa Z-score shows how a patient’s bone density compares to an age- and sex-matched reference population. It tells you how many standard deviations the result is from the mean of peers the same age. That’s why the statement about comparing to someone in the same age group is the correct description. This is different from the T-score, which compares bone density to a young healthy adult reference (about 30 years old). So saying the Z-score is compared to a 30-year-old reference isn’t accurate. The Z-score isn’t inherently higher or lower than a T-score—each uses a different baseline. And while Z-scores are especially emphasized in pediatric assessments, they aren’t limited to children.

The main idea is that a Dexa Z-score shows how a patient’s bone density compares to an age- and sex-matched reference population. It tells you how many standard deviations the result is from the mean of peers the same age. That’s why the statement about comparing to someone in the same age group is the correct description.

This is different from the T-score, which compares bone density to a young healthy adult reference (about 30 years old). So saying the Z-score is compared to a 30-year-old reference isn’t accurate. The Z-score isn’t inherently higher or lower than a T-score—each uses a different baseline. And while Z-scores are especially emphasized in pediatric assessments, they aren’t limited to children.