A European multicenter comparison of quantitative ultrasound measurement variables: The OPUS study

作者：Paggiosi M A^*; Barkmann R; Glueer C C; Roux C; Reid D M; Felsenberg D; Bradburn M; Eastell R

来源：Osteoporosis International, 2012, 23(12): 2815-2828.

DOI：10.1007/s00198-012-1912-2

• European comparison
• Geographical heterogeneity
• OPUS study
• Quantitative ultrasound
• Reference intervals

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurement variables vary between European countries in a different way to hip bone mineral density. Standardization of data can be achieved through statistical approaches to reduce any between-center differences in QUS measurement variables. However, further validation of this method is required before it can be widely applied. %26lt;br%26gt;European between-center differences in hip bone mineral density (BMD) have been shown to exist; however, little is known about the geographical heterogeneity of QUS measurement variables. We aimed to examine the differences in QUS variables between three different European countries. %26lt;br%26gt;Five calcaneal and phalangeal QUS devices in Sheffield, Aberdeen (UK), Kiel and Berlin (Germany), and three devices in Paris (France) were used to measure QUS variables in younger (n = 463, 20-39 years old) and older (n = 2,399, 55-79 years old) women participating in the European multicenter Osteoporosis and Ultrasound (OPUS) study. Broadband ultrasound attenuation, speed of sound, stiffness index, amplitude-dependent speed of sound, bone transmission time, and ultrasonic bone profiler index data were collected. Between-center differences were examined using ANOVA followed by post hoc Fisher%26apos;s least significant difference tests, and ANCOVA with linear contrasts. p %26lt; 0.05 indicated statistical significance. %26lt;br%26gt;Between-center differences in nonstandardized QUS measurement variables existed for younger (p = 0.0023 to p %26lt; 0.0001) and older women (p %26lt; 0.001). Anthropometric characteristics exerted a significant influence on nonstandardized data (p = 0.045 to p %26lt; 0.001). However, following statistical standardization, based on height and weight or based on measurements made in young people, geographical heterogeneity in QUS measurement variables was no longer apparent. %26lt;br%26gt;QUS measurement variables vary between European countries in a different way to those for hip BMD. Standardization of data can be achieved through statistical approaches to reduce any between-center differences in QUS measurement variables. However, further validation of this method is required before it can be widely applied.

• 出版日期2012-12