[Estimate of osteoporosis fracture risk with ultrasound bone assessment].
BACKGROUND
Multiple studies suggest that ultrasound measurement of the bone can be a rapid, cheap, and radiation-free alternative to determine the fracture risk. In this paper the ultrasound measurement of the bone was performed among 288 postmenopausal women, and the influence of gynecologic history and factors related to lifestyle on the obtained values was examined.


METHODS
One hundred nineteen healthy postmenopausal women and 169 women with previous osteoporotic fractures were included in the study. Both weight and height were determined and a clinical questionnaire was administered to assess factors related to bone mineral density. The values of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) were obtained with a contact ultrasound analyzer.


RESULTS
Among women without fractures the mean BUA and SOS values (64.1 [14.9] and 1,601.1 [34.5], respectively) were significantly higher than mean BUA (48.8 [17.3]) and SOS (1,573 [57.8]) values among women with fractures (p < 0.001). Using the logistic regression analysis for predicting fracture risk, the model that suited best was that including BUA (OR = 0.668 [0.544-0.818]), age (OR = 1.102 [1.055-1.151]), age at postmenopause (OR = 0.794 [0.731-0.862]) and height (OR = 0.932 [0.883-0.983]). The area under the curve for this model was 0.871.


CONCLUSIONS
BUA and SOS values are lower among women with osteoporotic fractures. The fracture risk can be predicted by means of a model including the variables BUA, age, postmenopausal age, and height.
Rodríguez García
A
A
Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid.
Martín Peña
G
G
Vázquez Díaz
M
M
Díaz-Miguel Pérez
C
C
Ormaechea Alegre
I
I
García de la Peña Lefevre
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
Estimación del riesgo de fracturas osteoporóticas mediante medición ultrasónica del hueso.