Abstract: Objective To measure bone speed of sound(SOS)and analyze the incidence rate of osteoporosis in Chinese adults for putting forward the assessment methods and relevant control strategy.Methods With convenience sampling,14 229 residents aged 20 years or elder(4 205 males and 10 024 females)were selected from 19 provinces and 3 municipalities directly under the central government and their SOS at the 1/3 distal radial were examined using quantitative ultrasound system(QUS,Sunlight Omnisense,Sunlight Medical Ltd,Israel) during September 2010 to September 2011.T-value was calculated in order to study the prevalence of osteoporosis.Results The average SOS values were 4 069.3±149.1 m/s for the male adults and 4 052.7±181.3 m/s for the female adults; the peaks of T-value were occurred in the men at age of 40-44 years(-0.21) and in the women at 45-49 years(-0.10).The prevalence of osteoporosis was increased with age.Among the adults over the age of 50 years,the osteoporosis rates for the men and women were 7.9% and 32.1%,respectively.For both the men and the women,the osteoporosis rates for both the male and female adults living in the north and northeast areas of China were higher than the average level of the adults in other areas.Conclusion The incidence rate of osteoporosis among Chinese adults needs to be concerned,especially for the older males,the females after menopause,and those living in north and northeast areas of China.The prevention of osteoporosis should be conducted in accordance with epidemiological characteristics of the illness.