The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for osteoporosis to prevent fractures in women ages 65 and older, says task force member Chien-Wen Tseng, a professor of family medicine and community health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and can break or fracture more easily. These fractures, also called osteoporotic or fragility fractures, can result from a minor fall or injury that typically would not cause a break in normal, healthy bones.
These fractures can lead to serious disability, loss of independence, decreased quality of life and, in some cases, death.
“Without screening, most women won’t know that they have osteoporosis until they have a fracture. Screening and treatment can help prevent these fractures,” says Tseng. “Based on the evidence, we recommend screening for women over the age of 65 and younger women who have been through menopause and are at increased risk for osteoporosis.”
The task force found that there is not enough evidence to determine if men should be screened for osteoporosis to prevent fractures.
For more, see the School of Medicine website.
—By Tina Shelton
