A Cross-Sectional Study

TLDR

Skeletal status in females changes across developmental stages, with distinct patterns before puberty, during the rise to peak bone mass, and after menopause. The study measured amplitude‑dependent speed of sound (Ad‑SoS) by quantitative ultrasound in 2,850 women aged 7–77 years and regressed Ad‑SoS on age, weight, height, and years since menopause for post‑menopausal subjects. Ad‑SoS increased from 1923 m/s to a peak of 2121 m/s at age 19, rose significantly between ages 11–16, declined only between 47–48 after 19, with age positively influencing the youngest groups, negatively the next, weight negatively and height positively across all groups, and years since menopause having no effect; thus hand‑phalange QUS is a useful tool for assessing female skeletal status.

Abstract

In the study, skeletal status was evaluated in 2850 females aged 7 to 77 yr using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) amplitude-dependent speed of sound [Ad-SoS]. Ad-SoS ranged from 1923 ± 30 to 1876 ± 81 m/s, and the peak value (2121 m/s) was achieved in 19-yr-old females. Ad-SoS increased significantly between subgroups aged 11 and 12 yr, 12 and 13 yr, 13 and 14 yr, 14 and 15 yr, and 15 and 16 yr. After the age of 19 yr the only significant drop was noted between age groups 47 and 48 yr. Ad-SoS was regressed on age, weight, and height for age ranges 7 to 11 yr. (before an increase in Ad-SoS), 12 to 19 yr (from the onset of the increase to the peak value), and older than 19 yr to menopause. In females after menopause, years since menopause (YSM) were taken into consideration. In the two youngest groups Ad-SoS was affected positively by age, and in the two next groups, age had a negative influence on Ad-SoS, whereas weight had a negative and height a positive influence in all groups. YSM did not influence the Ad-SoS value. It was concluded that QUS measurements at the hand phalanges are a useful tool in assessment of skeletal status in the female population.