[Quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) of the heel bone for diagnosis of osteoporosis in the general community].
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate how quantitative bone ultrasonometry (QUS) can detect patients at risk for osteoporosis in a general community. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 260 women aged 63 +/- 10 were examined using questionnaire, osteological history and QUS (Achilles+). RESULTS: The most frequent osteoporosis risk factors were: no estrogens, no sports and osteoporosis within the family. Risk-patients had lower QUS values compared to persons without risk-factors. There was a negative correlation of ultrasound parameters with age, but not with height or weight. Patients showed a mean loss of body height of -1.2 +/- 1.8 cm versus height in passports, which was positively correlated with QUS. 30% of patients with osteoporosis (T = -2.3 +/- 1.4 SD) had lower QUS than those without (T = -1.4 +/- 1.4 SD). 22% have had a atraumatic fracture (T = -2.5 +/- 1.4 SD), 12 patients had suffered a hip fracture (T = -2.8 +/- 1.8 SD) and 15 patients had a vertebral fracture (T = -2.6 +/- 1.6 SD). Patients on estrogens had T = -1.5 +/- 1.4 SD, which was higher than in those without HRT (T = -2.0 +/- 1.3 SD, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude from this study that risk patients for osteoporosis can be detected within the community using QUS. QUS is able to detect differences between treated and untreated and can be used in clinical practice to manage patients with osteoporosis risk.