Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a developing clinical research region characterized by its distinctive demographic profile that offers an opportunity to investigate diverse health issues. This pilot investigation sought to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics linked to bone metastases and primary malignant bone neoplasms (PMBNs) in patients from the RGV and to compare the frequency of these conditions with the US general population. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review in which data were gathered from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley UTHealth electronic database from January 1, 2018 to September 4, 2024. Various statistical analyses were performed to assess the demographic and clinical data. RESULTS: Individuals in the RGV are more likely to develop a PMBN (P < 0.0163) but less likely to have bone metastasis (P < 0.0015) compared with the general US population. Regarding bone metastases and PMBN, although not statistically significant, patients with bone metastasis were 10 years older on average and exhibited a lower body mass index (-1.7 kg/m(2)) and weight (-17.6 kg) than those with PMBN. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial research indicates age and body weight variations among individuals with bone metastases and PMBN in the RGV, as well as differences in frequency of bone metastases and PMBN in this medically underserved region compared with the general US population. Despite the limited sample size, our results necessitate further exploration in a larger cohort to elucidate any demographic and clinical differences in bone metastases and PMBN subtypes in medically underserved areas.