Normative calcaneal quantitative ultrasound data as an estimation of skeletal development in Swedish children and adolescents.
We present age- and gender-specific normative bone status data evaluated by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in the calcaneus with the Lunar Achilles device and compare these estimates with bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) estimated by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Included were a sample of 518 population-based collected Swedish girls and 558 boys aged 6-19 years. QUS measurements included speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and stiffness index (SI) in the calcaneus. DXA measurements included BMC and BMD in the femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine (L2-L4), and total body (TB). Height and weight were measured with standard equipment. Age, height, and weight were significantly associated with SOS, BUA, and SI. Compared to SOS, in both girls and boys there was a higher correlation between BUA and FN BMC (r = 0.71 and r = 0.73, respectively), FN BMD (r = 0.68 and r = 0.67, respectively), L2-L4 BMC (r = 0.70 and r = 0.64, respectively), L2-L4 BMD (r = 0.69 and r = 0.64, respectively), TB BMC (r = 0.76 and r = 0.75, respectively), and TB BMD (r = 0.74 and r = 0.74, respectively). The correlations between SOS and FN BMC (r = 0.38 and r = 0.52, respectively), FN BMD (r = 0.41 and r = 0.52, respectively), L2-L4 BMC (r = 0.31 and r = 0.40, respectively), L2-L4 BMD (r = 0.32 and r = 0.41, respectively), TB BMC (r = 0.42 and r = 0.49, respectively), and TB BMD (r = 0.48 and r = 0.54, respectively) were lower, although still significant (all P < 0.001). BUA seems to be the QUS parameter that best resembles the changes in BMC during growth.
Alwis
Gayani
G
Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Rosengren
Björn
B
Nilsson
Jan Ake
JA
Stenevi-Lundgren
Susanna
S
Sundberg
Martin
M
Sernbo
Ingemar
I
Karlsson
Magnus K
MK
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D001846:Bone Development; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013548:Sweden; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult