Comparison of International Reference Values for Bone Speed of Sound in Pediatric Populations: Meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to compare international reference values (RV) for tibial and radial speed of sound (SoS) assessed by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in pediatric populations. These values were compared by age and country of origin in a systematic review with meta-analysis from studies published on QUS (Sunlight Omnisense). A search was carried out in electronic databases. Nine studies with 6963 patients were included in the meta-analysis. For the newborn populations, 3 studies (from Italy, Portugal, and Israel) were used. These studies included subjects with 27-42 wk gestational age. The mean difference (Portugal-Israel) was found to be 23.62 m/s [95% confidence interval [CI] 6.29, 40.95]. Additionally, no difference was found between Italy-Portugal (p = 0.69), or Italy-Israel (p = 0.28). In pediatric populations, we compared 8 studies from Canada, Mexico, Israel, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. No significant differences found for SoS RV between Israel-Turkey, Israel-Greece, or Israel-Canada (p > 0.05). Significant differences were found in Mexico-Israel −105.29 m/s (95% CI −140.05, −70.54) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Portugal −115.14 m/s (95% CI −164.86, −65.42) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Greece: −239.14 m/s (95% CI −267.67, −210.62) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Turkey: −115.14 m/s (95% CI −164.86, −65.42) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Canada: −113.51 m/s (95% CI −140.25, −86.77) (p < 0.001).This study demonstrates that there are differences in SoS-RV obtained by tibial and radial QUS in pediatric populations between Mexico and other countries (Israel, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and Canada).