[Prevalence of osteoporosis assessed by quantitative ultrasound calcaneus measurements in institutionalized elderly population].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze using quantitative ultrasound of calcaneus (QUS) the prevalence of osteoporosis in institutionalized elderly people, in order to contribute to state reliable criteria (T-score units) for the diagnosis of osteoporosis which allow advances in bone fracture prevention.


METHODS
Elderly people (n=171) were divided into separate groups according to sex and age criteria (three decades, from 70 to 90 years) and analyzed using QUS.


RESULTS
Both globally and in the younger groups, women showed significantly lower values than men in all densitometry variables (p < 0.001). In the oldest group only T-score and BUA showed statistical differences (p = 0.039 y p = 0.025, respectively). The prevalence of osteoporosis in women was higher than in men whichever criteria were applied in all age groups. Applying the WHO criteria with QUS, the prevalence of osteoporosis in global population is close to that stated by DEXA using the same criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
QUS could be useful to assess the bone mass evolution with age and for the diagnosis and monitoring of osteoporosis. In our elderly population, the WHO criteria for DEXA, are also the most suitable ones for QUS utilization.
Navas Cámara
F J
FJ
Dpto. Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Fisiología, E.U. Fisioterapia de Soria, Universidad de Valladolid, Soria. fjnavas@bio.uva.es
Fernández de Santiago
F J
FJ
Bayona Marzo
I
I
Mingo Gómez
T
T
de la Fuente Sanz
M M
MM
Cacho del Amo
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014463:Ultrasonography