title: Evaluation of skeletal status by quantitative ultrasonometry in postmenopausal women without known risk factors for osteoporosis.
abstract: The objective of our study was to evaluate bone density in Italian postmenopausal women without clinical risk factors for osteoporosis resident in the Naples area using quantitative ultrasonometry of bone (QUS). Subjects were 1149 Italian postmenopausal women (age: 54.9 +/- 5.0 years (mean +/- standard deviation); range: 45-74 years) resident in the Naples area. Clinical risk factors for osteoporosis resulting in exclusion from the study were family history of osteoporosis, dietary, smoking and alcohol habits, personal history of fractures and/or metabolic diseases. The following QUS parameters were calculated: amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS), T-score and Z-score. We found significant inverse correlations between AD-SoS and age (r = - 0.23), time since menopause (r = - 0.25) and body mass index (BMI) (r = - 0.16). The same was observed for T-score. In contrast, Z-score showed a significant positive correlation with age and time since menopause, and a negative correlation with BMI. A T-score suggestive of high risk for osteoporosis (less than -3.2) was found in 1.6% of subjects, while a T-score suggestive of moderate risk for osteoporosis (between -3.2 and -2) was found in 19.3% of patients. In this group of women without clinical risk factors for osteoporosis we found a very low prevalence of QUS results suggesting a high risk for osteoporosis. However, a condition of 'moderate' risk for osteoporosis was present in a remarkable percentage of these women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Dario
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Mandato
authors.forename: Annalidia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sammartino
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tommaselli
authors.forename: Libuse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tauchmanovà
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Elia
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography