Osteoporosis Prevention
Osteoporosis Prevention
Purpose of review Patients with osteoporosis suffer from the morbidity and mortality associated with resultant fractures. The number of persons at risk for fractures is increasing as the US population ages. This review addresses preventive strategies that can be used to decrease the risk of minimal trauma fractures.
Recent findings Dietary and lifestyle modifications and screening to identify individuals most likely to benefit from pharmacologic interventions, important components of osteoporosis prevention, will be discussed. Currently available osteoporosis therapies and fall prevention, which should be utilized in those at increased risk of fracture, will be reviewed.
Summary The ultimate goal of implementing a multipronged osteoporosis preventive program is to improve function and quality of life in later life.
Osteoporosis is a skeletal condition characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to an increased risk of fractures. A diagnosis of osteoporosis is based either on the presence of a minimal trauma fracture (i.e. a fracture that occurs from a standing height) or the WHO's definition of osteoporosis of a bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip or wrist that is 2.5 SDs or more below the reference mean (a T score of −2.5 or less). The lifetime risk of a fragility fracture for a 50-year-old woman is estimated at one in two and one is five for a 50-year-old man. The growing need for osteoporosis prevention is highlighted by the aging of the baby boomer generation, the era of computers and more sedentary activities for children and the availability of an expanding repertoire of pharmacologic interventions that decrease fracture risk. Prevention of osteoporosis can be primary, which is preventing bone loss from occurring, secondary in which the progression of bone loss is inhibited to avert the development of fractures and tertiary in which patients with existing prevalent fractures are treated to prevent subsequent fracture. This article will review the multipronged approach to the prevention of bone loss.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Purpose of review Patients with osteoporosis suffer from the morbidity and mortality associated with resultant fractures. The number of persons at risk for fractures is increasing as the US population ages. This review addresses preventive strategies that can be used to decrease the risk of minimal trauma fractures.
Recent findings Dietary and lifestyle modifications and screening to identify individuals most likely to benefit from pharmacologic interventions, important components of osteoporosis prevention, will be discussed. Currently available osteoporosis therapies and fall prevention, which should be utilized in those at increased risk of fracture, will be reviewed.
Summary The ultimate goal of implementing a multipronged osteoporosis preventive program is to improve function and quality of life in later life.
Introduction
Osteoporosis is a skeletal condition characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to an increased risk of fractures. A diagnosis of osteoporosis is based either on the presence of a minimal trauma fracture (i.e. a fracture that occurs from a standing height) or the WHO's definition of osteoporosis of a bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip or wrist that is 2.5 SDs or more below the reference mean (a T score of −2.5 or less). The lifetime risk of a fragility fracture for a 50-year-old woman is estimated at one in two and one is five for a 50-year-old man. The growing need for osteoporosis prevention is highlighted by the aging of the baby boomer generation, the era of computers and more sedentary activities for children and the availability of an expanding repertoire of pharmacologic interventions that decrease fracture risk. Prevention of osteoporosis can be primary, which is preventing bone loss from occurring, secondary in which the progression of bone loss is inhibited to avert the development of fractures and tertiary in which patients with existing prevalent fractures are treated to prevent subsequent fracture. This article will review the multipronged approach to the prevention of bone loss.
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