Skeletal Status Assessed by Quantitative Ultrasound in Elderly Women Compared with Early Postmenopausal Women

Background: The aim of the retrospective study was to reveal the pattern of bone loss in elderly women compared with early postmenopausal women. Material: The group of 254 women was studied, among them were 40 elderly women (mean age 74.7+/-4.0 y.) and 214 early postmenopausal women (mean age 53.4+/-3.7 y.). Skeletal status was evaluated using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the calcaneus (Achilles, Lunar, USA). Parameters measured were: Speed of Sound (SOS [m/s]), Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA [dB/MHz]) and Stiffness Index (SI [%]). Results: In elderly women age, years since menopause (YSM) and body size did not influence significantly ultrasound values, only positive influence of weight and body mass index on BUA was observed (p<0.05). In early postmenopausal women YSM negatively affected SOS (p<0.05), BUA (p=0.05) and SI (p<0.05), body size had generally a positive impact on all QUS parameters, and the percentage of life with menstruation positively affected SOS (p<0.05). In multiple stepwise regression analyses in elderly women only weight had a positive effect on BUA, and in early postmenopausal women, weight was a protective factor for all parameters, age negatively influenced BUA and SI, and YSM negatively influenced SOS. Multiple stepwise regression analysis in the whole group showed that weight was a protective factor and age was a negative factor for all QUS parameters. Conclusion: The pattern of bone loss in the elderly differs in comparison to younger postmenopausal women, and the weight among factors assessed was the only protective one in postmenopausal women. Maintaince of body weight seems to be the most important in osteoporosis prevention.