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Postmenopausal osteoporosis screening not in line with current guidelines, study found
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NAMS Annual Meeting
CHICAGO — Results of a new study reveal that many women are inappropriately screened for postmenopausal osteoporosis, which could potentially lead to inappropriate treatment.
Among a group of women who were sent for DXA bone density screening, 41.3% of women did not meet criteria for such screening.
In addition, one in three women were not receiving vitamin D or calcium and two in three women were not exercising at least 30 minutes per week, according to data presented here at the North American Menopause Society 21st Annual Meeting.
Melissa Dubois, MD, and colleagues at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Pennsylvania, presented data on a cohort of 615 postmenopausal women aged 49 years and older who were sent for DXA screening to determine if they met the criteria for bone density testing. The researchers also evaluated how many women were taking appropriate preventive measures and how many were treated based on current treatment guidelines.
Based on the North American Menopause Society 2006 osteoporosis position statement for screening and therapeutic intervention guidelines, 25.5% of women sent for DXA screening were not taking calcium, 31.1% were not taking vitamin D and 59.8% were not exercising the minimal recommended amount. Among screened women with any of the approved indications for treatment, 15.7% were not taking calcium, 18.6% were not taking vitamin D, 35.3% were not taking any therapy and 61.3% were not exercising.
“Based on risk factors and testing results, approximately one of six women without indications for treatment were receiving antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis,” the researchers said.
Results showed that 18% of the women were receiving a bisphosphonate, raloxifene or calcitonin.
For more information:
- Dubois M. P-18. Presented at: North American Menopause Society 21st Annual Meeting; Oct. 6-9, 2010; Chicago.
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