Heel Test Reveals Osteoporosis Risk

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – A simple ultrasound test of the heel might be a good way to predict which women are at highest risk for the bone thinning disease osteoporosis. It could also help determine which women don’t have to worry about developing the condition.

Swiss researchers tested the method, known as heel-bone quantitative ultrasound (QUS), in about 6,000 women between the ages of 70 and 85 with no formal diagnosis of osteoporosis. Results of the ultrasound were then combined with typical risk factors for osteoporosis such as age, history of fractures or a recent fall. Women were then classified at a higher or lower risk for the disease. About three-fourths of the women fell into the higher risk category.

The women were followed for up to 32 months. While about six percent of women in the higher risk group experienced a fracture during follow up, fractures were seen in just under two percent of those in the lower risk group. Among women who developed hip fractures, 90 percent were in the higher risk group.

The authors believe the test could be a good way to identify women who could benefit from more complex screening – as well as a good way to tell which women can avoid the additional test.

“Heel QUS in conjunction with clinical risk factors can be used to identify a population at a very low fracture probability in which no further diagnostic evaluation may be necessary,” study author Idris Guessous, M.D., was quoted as saying.

SOURCE: Radiology, published online June 24, 2008

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