Abstract
Summary
One thousand healthy Saudi Arabian females underwent bone mass measurement using ultrasonography (Achilles Express, GE), which indicated that the Saudi reference values for diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis using QUS is different from the standard Middle East and US reference values.
Objectives
As bone mineral density differs among different ethnic groups, the use of same reference data for different populations may lead to under or over diagnosis of low bone mass. The aim of this study is to determine a Saudi women reference population data of stiffness index (SI) in quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for the diagnosis of low bone mass.
Methods
One thousand healthy Saudi women between the ages of ≥20–90 years were screened for the diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Demographic data were recorded. SI was measured using Achilles Insight ultrasonography of right calcaneus. Data was separated into seven Excel workbooks containing age and SI measurements. After the initial fit, points with residuals greater than three times the standard error of estimate were excluded.
Results
The average age was 59.32 ± 24.6 years. The calculated mean SI reference value for young age of 22–39 years is (92.2 ± 16.3). The Saudi values depart significantly from Middle East and US reference values by retaining higher mean SI values till later age.
Conclusions
Findings from this study suggest that the Saudi Reference curve for stiffness index using QUS is different from the standard Middle East and US reference curve.