Quantitative Ultrasound Use to Increase Geriatric Follow-up for Osteoporosis

Over 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, which is defined as a chronic, progressive disease presenting with deterioration of bone tissue and fragility subsequently leading to an increased fracture risk1. A positive diagnosis for osteoporosis is significantly correlated with increased age, making geriatrics patients an at-risk group for bone health complications2. A pathophysiological diagnosis for osteoporosis is done radiographically based on bone mineral density from a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry assessment (DXA)3. DXA scans have been used increasingly over time in geriatric populations to screen patients for osteoporosis4; however, one problem with DXA scans is the radiation dose due to x-ray radiography4. Therefore, using DXA scans as a preliminary screening method comes with risks, even though it is the gold standard for diagnosis3.

Osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease because people are not aware that they have low bone density9. The first sign may be loss of height but can also be a fracture due to a ground level mechanical fall. As people age, their bones lose their strength (density) and become more brittle2,10. Unfortunately, fractures can have devastating effects on people's quality of life causing chronic pain, difficulties with mobility, need for increased assistance, isolation, increased nursing home placement and rates of death10. Also, once a person has fallen and had a fragility fracture, they are likely to do so again10. Our goal is to encourage older adult patients to follow-up with their doctors to discuss osteoporosis screening, diagnosis, and treatment to help reduce the prevalence of fragility fractures.

Osteoporosis follow-up rates need to be improved in geriatric populations. Increased compliance with follow-ups and medication recommendations have been shown to decrease fracture rates in this population5. In-office patient measurements have been previously shown to increase compliance with treatment. In the case of smoking, carbon monoxide (CO) monitors increased a patient's willingness to comply with cessation protocols significantly in an orthopedic fracture population6.

Quantitative ultrasound scans (QUS) have emerged as a simple point-of-care test for bone density. 7 For a quantitative ultrasound scan, the patient sits in a chair and places their heel on specialized ultrasound machine in a manner similar to having the size of the foot measured at a department store. The machine is portable and can be performed at the bedside. Prior research has demonstrated that, although QUS cannot replace DXA scans as the gold standard for diagnosis of osteopenia, it can still be used to immediately identify abnormal bone density8. Integrating QUS scans into geriatric fracture treatment comes at little risk, and, similar to home CO monitoring for smoking cessation, may provide additional information to the patient to encourage further action.