Bone status assessed by quantitative ultrasound in healthy postmenopausal Polish women: normative data

In this study, ultrasound measurements of the calcaneus of 712 healthy postmenopausal Polish women aged 50-85 years (mean age 59.5 years) were performed. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) were obtained with a Lunar Achilles machine. The women in the study were volunteers evaluated at the Osteoporotic Centre for screening purposes. The results showed a decrease in ultrasound values within the age range 52-74 years for BUA (9.8%) and SOS (1.9%). Simple linear regression analysis showed a negative, significant correlation with age for BUA (r=-0.36) and SOS (r=-0.38). Years since menopause (YSM) showed significant correlations with BUA and SOS (r=-0.33 and -0.35, respectively). Using multiple regression analysis, the following equations were obtained: BUA=66.04 - 0.31Age + 0.06Weight - 0.18 YSM + 0.27Height + 0.52 Body mass index and SOS=1547.17 - 1.02Age + 0.38Weight - 0.48 YSM. Several weak, but significant, correlations between ultrasound values and weight, height and body mass were noted (r ranged from 0.09 to -0.29). A decrease of ultrasound values was expressed mainly in the first 6-10 years of the postmenopause period. The pattern of this decrease was similar to data published by other authors, but values in postmenopausal Polish women are slightly lower.