Multisite quantitative ultrasound for the prediction of fractures over 5 years of follow-up: The Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study

This study assessedthe ability ofmultisite quantitative ultrasound (mQUS) topredict fracture over a5‐year follow‐up. Participants were a subsetoftheCanadianMulticentreOsteoporosisStudy.mQUS‐assessedspeedofsound(SOSinm/s)atthreesites(distalradius,tibia,and phalanx) and extensive questionnaires were completed, after which participants were followed for 5 years and incident fractures recorded. Two survival analyses were completed for each site—a univariate analysis and an adjusted multivariate analysis controlling for age, antiresorptive use, femoral neck bone mineral density, number of diseases, previous fractures, body mass index (BMI), parental history of hip fracture, current smoking, current alcoholic drinks >3 per day, current use of glucocorticoids, and rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis (variables from the FRAX 10‐year fracture risk assessment tool). The unit of change for regression analyses was one standard deviation for all measurement sites, specific to site and sex. Separate analyses were completed for all clinical fractures, nonvertebral fractures, and hip fractures by sex. There were 2633 women and 1108 men included, and they experienced 204 incident fractures over 5 years (5.5% fractured). Univariate models revealed statistically significant (p