Bone Abstracts

Objective: Currently, majority of the osteoporotic patients are not diagnosed i) a new ultrasound based device (Bindex) has been recently introduced for osteoporosis (OP) screening and diagnostics at primary healthcare ii) Bindex measures cortical thickness and determines parameter called density index (DI). Thresholds for DI in OP assessment have been determined in Finnish-Caucasian (F-C) population (n=448) along the International Society of Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) guidelines iii) In this study, these thresholds are tested in American-Caucasian (A-C) population.

Materials and methods: A total of 221 A-C females participated the study (age 69.7±9.4 years). Subjects were measured with DXA to determine BMD at proximal femur. Further, the cortical thickness was measured at three locations (distal radius, distal and proximal tibia) with Bindex. Subjects were diagnosed with OP when T-score at femoral neck or total proximal femur was below −2.5 (NHANES III). DI was calculated either by using measurement at one location (DI₁, proximal tibia) or all three locations (DI₃). By using the diagnostic thresholds, subjects were classified as healthy, osteoporotic or in need of DXA examination to verify diagnosis.

Results: A total of 74.2 and 73.8% of the subjects could be directly diagnosed by using Bindex measurement, with DI₁ and DI₃ respectively. Both parameters showed significant linear correlation with total proximal femur BMD (r=0.62–0.70). Sensitivity in OP diagnostics was 80.9 and 89.7% for DI₁ and DI₃, respectively. Specificity was 86.9 and 84.3% for DI₁ and DI₃, respectively. OP was diagnosed in 68 subjects in total.

Conclusion: In this study, fewer subjects would have needed additional DXA examination to verify diagnosis when compared to previous findings. The correlation between BMD and DI was similar than previously observed. These results suggest that F-C thresholds may be applicable for A-C population.