Reference Curve of Bone Ultrasound Measurements in Proximal Phalanges in Normal Spanish Women

There are clear discrepancies in how the different measurements of phalangeal bone ultrasound, such as the amplitude-dependent speed of bone ultrasound (Ad-SoS), correlate with age, given their dependence on gonadal status and other anthropometric variables. In order to contribute to clarifying these discrepancies, we evaluated the phalangeal Ad-SoS in healthy women 295 postmenopausal, 59 perimenopausal, and 270 premenopausal. Phalanges (II–V) of the nondominant hand were measured and the mean Ad-SoS was computed. There were significant differences between groups ( p < 0.0001 in all cases), with the perimenopausal group presenting the intermediate values. For the overall group of women, the Ad-SoS was significantly and negatively correlated with age, weight, and body mass index (BMI), and positively correlated with height ( p < 0.0001 in all cases). By gonadal status group, the premenopausal women showed the three significant negative correlations of Ad-SoS with age, weight, and BMI (each, p < 0.0001), the perimenopausal group only with BMI ( p < 0.007), and the postmenopausal group with age and BMI ( p < 0.0061 to p < 0.0001) and also with years since menopause ( p < 0.0001). The premenopausal decline in AD-SoS requires further longitudinal studies, although in our experience it may depend on dietary habits and/or a diminished quality, though not quantity, of bone in this period of a woman's fertile life.