BPAQ associations with ultrasound parameters of calcaneal bone quality — ASN Events
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BPAQ associations with ultrasound parameters of calcaneal bone quality (#216)

Benjamin K Weeks 1 2 , Amy T Harding 1 2 , Steven L Watson 1 2 , Conor Lambert 1 2 , Rossana C Nogueira 1 2 , Sally F Dzera 1 2 , Belinda R Beck 1 2 3
  1. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland, Australia
  2. School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland, Australia
  3. The Bone Clinic, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Bone-specific Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ) is designed to provide a bone-relevant index of physical activity participation according to the mechanical loads borne across the lifespan.  We have previously demonstrated positive associations between BPAQ scores and calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) in a cohort of healthy young adults; however, it is unknown if relationships exist for older participants or for other ultrasound parameters such as speed of sound (SOS) and stiffness index (SI). 

Aim:  To examine relationships between BPAQ scores and parameters of calcaneal bone quality, including BUA, SOS, and SI in men and women across the age span.

Methods: We recruited 229 healthy men and women (age 17-78 years).  Quantitative ultrasonometry (Lunar Achilles Insight, GE) was used to measure BUA, SOS, and SI of the non-dominant calcaneus.  Physical activity participation was recorded with the BPAQ to derive total BPAQ score and its sub-scores (current and past) for each participant.  Pearson correlation analyses were used to examine relationships between BPAQ scores and ultrasound parameters.

Results:  For the whole group, total BPAQ score was associated with SOS (r=0.19, p˂0.01) and SI (r=0.17, p=0.01).  Current BPAQ score was related to BUA (r=0.26, p˂0.01), SOS (r=0.26, p˂0.01), and SI (r=0.28, p˂0.01), while past BPAQ score was related to SOS (r=0.17, p=0.01) and SI (r=0.16, p=0.02).  For sex-specific analyses, only women exhibited BPAQ associations, with current BPAQ score positively associated with BUA (r=0.27, p˂0.01), SOS (r=0.37, p˂0.01), and SI (r=0.34, p˂0.01), and total BPAQ score associated with SOS (r=0.17, p=0.04).  No relationships were observed for past BPAQ in sex-specific analyses (p˃0.05).

Conclusion:  BPAQ scores are associated with parameters of calcaneal bone quality in healthy adults.  The strongest relationships, however, exist for current BPAQ score in women. Such results reinforce earlier findings of BPAQ associations with other indices of bone mass and strength.