title: Discrepancy between the quantitative ultrasound value of Malaysian men and the manufacturer's reference and the impact on classification of bone health status.
abstract: The local normative value in quantitative ultrasound (QUS) equipment needs to be established for wider application and accurate classification of patients into respective fracture risk groups. The present study aimed to establish the calcaneal speed of sound (SOS) value for Chinese and Malay men in Malaysia and determine the difference between calcaneal SOS of the local population and the reference values provided by the manufacturer for each age group. This study will also determine the effect of using the manufacturer's young adult (20-29yr) reference or the local young adult reference to classify the subjects into the respective risk groups. Eight hundred forty Malay and Chinese men residing in central peninsular Malaysia were recruited and their calcaneal QUS value was determined using the CM-200 machine (Furuno Electric, Nishinomiya City, Japan). The results showed that the differences in SOS values between Chinese and Malay men were not significant across all the age groups studied (p>0.05). The age-dependent reduction of SOS value assumed a biphasic form, which was evident at 30-39yr and older than 60yr. The calcaneal SOS of the subject under study was significantly higher as compared with the manufacturer's reference (based on Japanese population) in all groups aged 40yr and older (p<0.05). A significant proportion of the subjects in the osteoporosis group was misclassified using the manufacturer's young adult reference as compared with using the local young adult reference (p<0.05). In conclusion, the overall normative value of SOS obtained was suitable for Chinese and Malay men in Malaysia, and a local reference value should be applied to avoid misclassification of subjects into the respective risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kok-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Ima-Nirwana
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Soelaiman
authors.forename: Isa Naina
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Norazlina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Ahmad Nazrun
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Shuid
authors.forename: Norliza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Wan Zurinah
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Wan Ngah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult