Brazilian Pediatric Reference Data for Quantitative Ultrasound of Phalanges According to Gender, Age, Height and Weight: e0127294

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 6
• Main Authors: Goncalves, Ezequiel Moreira, Ribeiro, Roberto Regis, Carvalho, Roberto Gomesde, Moraes, Anderson Marquesde, Roman, Everton Paulo, Santos, Keila Donassolo, Medaets, Pedro AugustoRodrigues, Veiga-Junior, Nelio Neves, Coelho, Lace deMoraes, Krahenbuehl, Tathyane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2015
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127294

Aims To establish normative data for phalangeal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measures in Brazilian students. Methods The sample was composed of 6870 students (3688 females and 3182 males), aged 6 to 17 years. The bone status parameter, Amplitude Dependent Speed of Sound (AD-SoS) was assessed by QUS of the phalanges using DBM Sonic BP (IGEA, Carpi, Italy) equipment. Skin color was obtained by self-evaluation. The LMS method was used to derive smoothed percentiles reference charts for AD-SoS according to sex, age, height and weight and to generate the L, M, and S parameters. Results Girls showed higher AD-SoS values than boys in the age groups 7-16 (p<0.001). There were no differences on AD-SoS Z-scores according to skin color. In both sexes, the obese group showed lower values of AD-SoS Z-scores compared with subjects classified as thin or normal weight. Age (r2 = 0.48) and height (r2 = 0.35) were independent predictors of AD-SoS in females and males, respectively. Conclusion AD-SoS values in Brazilian children and adolescents were influenced by sex, age and weight status, but not by skin color. Our normative data could be used for monitoring AD-SoS in children or adolescents aged 6-17 years.