Osteoporosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made be bone densitometry, or be the presence of fragility fractures.
Densitometry results are generally scored by two measures, the T-score and the Z-score. Scores indicate the amount one's bone mineral density varies from the mean. Negative scores indicate lower bone density, and positive scores indicate higher.
T-score
The T-score is a comparison of a patient's BMD to that of a healthy thirty-year-old. This value is used in post-menopausal women and men over aged 50 because it better predicts risk of future fracture.Template:Fact The criteria of the World Health Organization are[1]:
- Osteoporosis is defined as -2.5 or lower, meaning a bone density that is two and a half standard deviations below the mean of a thirty year old woman.
- Osteopenia is defined as less than -1.0 and greater than -2.5
- Normal is a T-score of -1.0 or higher
Z-score
The Z-score is a comparison of a patient's BMD to the average BMD of their, sex, and race. This value is used in premenopausal women, men under aged 50, and in children.Template:Fact
Screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all women 65 years of age or older should be screened with bone densitometry.[2] The Task Force recommends screening women 60 to 64 years of age who are at increased risk. The best risk factor for indicating increased risk is lower body weight (weight < 70 kg).
Clinical prediction rules are available to guide selection of women for screening. The Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI) may be the most sensitive strategy[3]
Treatment
Calcium
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials concluded "Evidence supports the use of calcium, or calcium in combination with vitamin D supplementation, in the preventive treatment of osteoporosis in people aged 50 years or older. For best therapeutic effect, we recommend minimum doses of 1200 mg of calcium, and 800 IU of vitamin D (for combined calcium plus vitamin D supplementation)."[4]
References
- ↑ WHO Scientific Group on the Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis (2000 : Geneva, Switzerland) (2003). Prevention and management of osteoporosis : report of a WHO scientific group (pdf). Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
- ↑ (2002) "Screening for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: recommendations and rationale". Ann. Intern. Med. 137 (6): 526-8. PMID 12230355. [e]
- ↑ Martínez-Aguilà D, Gómez-Vaquero C, Rozadilla A, Romera M, Narváez J, Nolla JM (2007). "Decision rules for selecting women for bone mineral density testing: application in postmenopausal women referred to a bone densitometry unit". J. Rheumatol. 34 (6): 1307-12. PMID 17552058. [e]
- ↑ Tang BMP et al (2007). "Use of calcium or calcium in combination with vitamin D supplementation to prevent fractures and bone loss in people aged 50 years and older: a meta-analysis". Lancet 370: 657-666. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61342-7. Research Blogging.