Skeletal status in males aged 7-80 years assessed by quantitative ultrasound at the hand phalanges

Skeletal status in males has been assessed by quantitative ultrasound in only a few studies. There is the lack of data concerning age accretion, peak values, and age-decrease of bone parameters in a wide age range. The aim of this study was evaluation of a large, male, normal population (n=1,175) aged 7-80 years, by the use of quantitative ultrasound (QUS), to estimate peak value of phalangeal ultrasound parameter, age-related changes during growing and aging, the influence of body size, and determination of male normative data. In the study, amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) at the hand phalanges was measured using DBM Sonic 1200 (IGEA, Italy). The precision assessed by root-mean-square coefficient of variation (RMS-CV) was 0.7%. Ad-SoS ranged from 1,916 m/s in the youngest subgroup (7 years of age) to 1,910 m/s in the oldest (75-80 years of age), and the peak value (2,135 m/s) was achieved in 28-year-old males. Ad-SoS did not increase significantly to the age of 13. Ad-SoS increased significantly between subgroups aged 13 and 14 years ( p<0.0001), and at 15 and 16 years of age ( p<0.000001). A significant decrease was noted between the following age subgroups: 35-39 years vs 40-44 years ( p<0.05), 45-49 years vs 50-54 years ( p<0.000001), and 60-64 years vs 65-69 years ( p<0.001). A difference in Ad-SoS values between the youngest subgroup and peak value was 219 m/s, and an increase per year was about 10.4 m/s. From the peak value to the value in the oldest group Ad-SoS dropped by 225 m/s, and the decrease per year was about 4.6 m/s. Multiple stepwise regression analyses of Ad-SoS with age, weight,and height were performed separately for age ranges: 7-13 years (before an increase in Ad-SoS, n=299), 14-28 years (from the onset of the fast increase in Ad-SoS to the peak value, n=370) and for subjects older than 28 years (after an achievement of peak value of Ad-SoS, n=506). The following equations of the multiple stepwise regression were obtained, respectively: Ad-SoS (m/s)=1,624-1.0 x age (years) -2.94 x weight (kg) + 3.06 x height (cm), r=0.48, p<0.000001, SEE=32.0; Ad-SoS (m/s)=1,533+6.87 x age (years) + 2.41 x height (cm) 0.07 x weight (kg), r=0.56, p<0.000001, SEE=54.3; Ad-SoS (m/s)=1,895-3.87 x age (years) - 1.43 x weight (kg) + 2.53 x height (cm), r=0.73, p<0.00001, SEE=54.3. In conclusion, the study results allowed us to determine normative data, to assess a peak Ad-SoS value, its age-related changes and the influence of body size in the male population.