Who should be tested for osteoporosis?

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density measurements for:

• Women age 65 and above
• Post-menopausal women with one or more additional risk factors for osteoporosis
• Post-menopausal women with fractures
• Women considering therapy for osteoporosis
• Women who have been on hormone replacement therapy for prolonged periods of time

Risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• History of osteoporotic fracture
• History of an osteopathic fracture in a first-degree relative
• Being Caucasian or Asian, although African Americans and Hispanic Americans are at signficant risk as well
• Advanced age
• Female sex
• Dementia
• Poor health/frailty
• Medications such as corticosteroids
• Cigarette smoking
• Low body weight (below 127 lbs.)
• Estrogen deficiency
• Low calcium intake
• Alcoholism
• Impaired eyesight despite adequate correction
• Recurrent falls and inadequate physical activity

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