Osteoporosis

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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]

References

  1. 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.
  2. (2002) "Screening for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: recommendations and rationale". Ann. Intern. Med. 137 (6): 526-8. PMID 12230355[e]
  3. 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]