Calcaneal Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation and Speed of Sound Measurements in a Population of Nigerian Children: Reference Data and the Influence of Sociodemographic Variables.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to establish a reference database of calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and the speed of sound (SOS) in a healthy Nigerian population of children aged 6 to 14 years and also to investigate the influence of sociodemographic and anthropometric variables on them. The BUA and SOS of 1016 healthy children were measured by quantitative ultrasound densitometry. Height and weight were measured with a stadiometer and weighing balance, respectively, whereas the sociodemographic parameters of the participants were collected on a semistructured questionnaire. A multiple regression model using stepwise selection and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationship between the ultrasound parameters and sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters. Comparisons between various age groups were made by analysis of variance. The mean BUA and SOS ± SD of the participants were 60.57 ± 16.21 dB/MHz and 1563.48 ± 21.74 m/s, respectively, for boys and 58.18 ± 15.16 dB/MHz and 1560.03 ± 22.32 m/s for girls. The BUA in both sexes was positively influenced by age and weight (P < .05), whereas only the father's educational status was its predictor (P < .05) in the boys. For the girls, the family size and mother's educational status were predictors of the BUA (P < .05). The SOS was marginally influenced by age and family size in the boys (P < .05), whereas the father's educational status was the predictor in the girls. The established BUA and SOS values in this study are baseline values, and further study, which would also involve data from a large number of Nigerian children, would be needed to support their effectiveness as reference values.