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Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Because the lifetime risk of fragility fracture for a 50-year-old Caucasian woman is about 40 per cent, a whole-life strategy of osteoporosis prevention is necessary. In childhood, primary prevention of osteoporosis is based on exercise and adequate dietary calcium. In women undergoing menopause, hormone replacement therapy administered for at least ten years remains the preventive treatment of choice, and is associated with a substantial reduction in vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Intranasal salmon calcitonin and bisphosphonates are effective alternatives, but their effects on fracture rate and their long-term safety require further evaluation. Regarding the prevention of the late bone loss leading to senile osteoporosis, there is now evidence that the reduction of the secondary hyperparathyroidism induced by calcium and vitamin D insufficiencies through the administration of calcium and vitamin D supplements significantly decreases the hip fracture incidence. There is no general consensus about the efficacy of treatment for established osteoporosis with fractures. Fluoride salts have proven their direct stimulating effects on bone formation; dosage must be moderate, and the duration of treatment should be limited to 2-3 years in order not to impair the quality of the new bone. Cyclical therapy with etidronate induces beneficial effects on bone mass in the spine, but its effect on the vertebral fracture rate is not yet established. The new bisphosphonates seem to be promising for the management of osteoporosis. Several other agents such as growth factors, silicon derivatives and strontium salts are in various stages of testing. The new definition of osteoporosis proposed by a WHO study group, no longer based on the fracture but on a low bone mass, is of major interest, because it should make possible to have a more effective therapeutic approach, before the occurrence of an irreversible degree of bone loss.

Female↗

The diagnosis of osteoporosis: attitudes and knowledge of Israeli physicians.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Osteoporosis is the most common human bone disease. Although proper diagnosis may minimize injury and disability, this depends to a great extent on the knowledge and attitudes of physicians. The aim of the present study was to assess physicians' attitudes, knowledge and practice regarding the diagnosis of osteoporosis. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 1900 Israeli physicians addressing their knowledge and attitudes about osteoporosis and its diagnosis, and their perceptions regarding the cost-effectiveness of different diagnostic methods. RESULTS: Answers were received from 19% of the physicians. The majority of the respondents supported screening for osteoporosis, especially in high-risk women. Overall, the participants had good knowledge about the definition of osteoporosis and its risk factors, but poor knowledge about its prevalence. Female physicians had better knowledge and stronger attitudes than male physicians. Similarly, younger and less experienced physicians showed better knowledge. The majority of the participants reported being familiar with, and using all types of clinical methods. They also perceived these methods as highly cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the present study stress the need to extend the knowledge of physicians regarding diagnosis of osteoporosis and the research aimed at understanding their attitudes.

Adult↗

Failure to treat osteoporosis and the risk of subsequent fractures in elderly patients with previous hip fracture: a five-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Considering the results of cost-effective analyses, the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends osteoporosis treatment for patients with previous hip fracture. The aim of this study was to examine the application of adequate treatment for osteoporosis among patients who have had a hip fracture. We also evaluated the rate of subsequent fractures after five years. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective data study, with a follow-up at five years after discharge, in a tertiary teaching hospital with orthopedic services and all medical specialities. Treatment for osteoporosis and subsequent fracture rates were evaluated in 114 patients with hip fracture. Functional status was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). We also evaluated the rate of subsequent fractures after five years. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (22%) had a new fracture at some moment during the follow-up. Six percent at discharge and 12% at five years of follow-up were receiving adequate treatment for osteoporosis. After five years of follow-up, a decline in their BI persisted in 72% of the 43 surviving patients. CONCLUSIONS: Few patients were receiving adequate treatment for osteoporosis after hip fracture. Their fracture rates and functional decline were important.

Aged↗

Osteoporosis health-related behavior among healthy peri-menopausal and post-menopausal Israeli Jewish and Arab women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Health practices such as calcium-rich diet and exercise, are associated with the prevention of osteoporosis. Since studies showed that ethnic minorities are less involved in preventive practices, the aim of this study was to examine patterns and correlates of osteoporosis health-related behavior in Israeli-Jewish and Arab women. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 261 women aged 45 and older (70% Jewish). Health behavior included: physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of hormone replacement therapy, screening behavior, calcium intake, pharmacological prevention, and help-seeking patterns. Correlates included demographic variables, health characteristics (menopausal status, family history of osteoporosis), knowledge about osteoporosis, and beliefs (susceptibility and worries about developing osteoporosis). RESULTS: Compared with Jewish participants, a lower percentage of Arab women engaged in physical activity, were on HRT, and had had bone density examinations. Their overall calcium intake was significantly lower as well. Levels of knowledge were moderate to low for the whole group, but more so among Arab women. Engaging in physical activities was associated with being menopausal and with having more knowledge among Jewish women, and with having more knowledge and lower rates of concern among Arab women. CONCLUSIONS: Expanding knowledge about osteoporosis may prove beneficial for increasing participation in preventive behavior in both groups. Special attention should be paid to different levels of education and to differences in subjects' needs and accessibility to sources of information.

Aged↗

Awareness, attitudes and opinions on osteoporosis of primary care physicians working in the metropolitan area of Rome: a brief report.

Attitudes of primary care physicians towards prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis have important implications in clinical practice; however, in Italy, this issue has been poorly investigated. This study aimed to determine whether the awareness and opinions of family physicians regarding the management of osteoporosis are in line with the suggestions of experts in the field. One hundred of 115 randomly selected family physicians from the area of Rome were asked to participate, and completed a survey on osteoporosis including ten close-ended questions. Response rates documented the degree of awareness about osteoporosis. Thirty-six percent of physicians make the diagnosis of osteoporosis based exclusively on bone densitometry (BD), while 17% never utilize BD. Fifty-three percent of doctors assess biochemical markers of bone turnover, but half of them are unaware of the existence of more sensitive and specific markers. Forty-four percent of physicians autonomously start therapy according to the suggestions of journal reports (38%), and/or pharmaceutical advertisements (18%). Regarding treatment follow-up, 60% of doctors gave inadequate answers, as 25% and 35% of them check bone markers after six months of therapy, and BD within one year of therapy initiation, respectively. In conclusion, experts on osteoporosis should give more attention to the education of primary care physicians regarding the management of the disease.

Attitude↗

Osteoporosis disease management in a rural health care population: hip fracture reduction and reduced costs in postmenopausal women after 5 years.

A 5 year observational study is reported which reviews the implementation of the Geisinger Health System Osteoporosis Disease Management Program. This program includes Osteoporosis Clinical Practice Guidelines, physician and allied health care provider education, community education, and a bone density testing program. All women over the age of 55 years enrolled in the Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) from 1996 to 2000 were included in this analysis. The guidelines led health care providers to increase the evaluation of osteoporosis via bone density measurements and to increase the prescription treatment of osteoporosis. Most importantly, the age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures fell significantly in the entire group as well as in several age strata (65-74, 75-84 and 85+ years). Compared with a predictive model of no intervention, there was an overall reduction in health care costs to GHP estimated to be US$7.8 million over a 5 year period. This report is the first to suggest that an organized Osteoporosis Disease Management Program delivered by a health care system can result in increased evaluation and treatment of osteoporosis with a resultant significant decrease in hip fractures while decreasing the total direct costs of care to a health plan.

Aged↗

Searching for osteoporosis genes in the post-genome era: progress and challenges.

Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), deterioration of bone microarchitecture and increased fracture risk. It is a complex disease that has high social and economic costs. Osteoporosis and its associated phenotypes are under the strong genetic control. Identification and characterization of specific loci or genes involved in determining osteoporosis and its associated phenotypes will contribute to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, and ultimately might lead to the development of better diagnosis, prevention and treatment strategies. Efforts to identify osteoporosis genes have focused on three approaches: animal models, candidate gene approach, and genome-wide scans. In this article, we review the current status for mapping and identification of genes for osteoporosis, with a focus on some promising regions and future prospects.

Animals↗

A theoretical analysis of the relative influences of peak BMD, age-related bone loss and menopause on the development of osteoporosis.

Factors that determine a post-menopausal woman's bone mineral density (BMD) include her mass at the time of skeletal maturity (peak BMD), menopause and the rate of loss she experiences as she ages. Understanding the relative influence of each of these factors may help identify important preventive treatments and provide new ways to identify women at risk for osteoporosis. In this analysis we utilize a computer model of the bone remodeling process to predict the relative influences of peak BMD, menopause and age-related bone loss on the development of osteoporosis. The delay in the onset of osteoporosis (defined as BMD <2.5 SD from the young adult mean) caused by modifying peak BMD, age-related bone loss or the age at menopause is quantified. A 10% increase in peak BMD is predicted to delay the development of osteoporosis by 13 years, while a 10% change in the age at menopause or the rate of non-menopausal bone loss is predicted to delay osteoporosis by approximately 2 years, suggesting that peak BMD may be the single most important factor in the development of osteoporosis.

Adult↗

Cost-effectiveness of risedronate for the treatment of osteoporosis and prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women.

Randomized, double-blind, controlled studies have shown that treatment with risedronate reduces the risk of vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with established vertebral osteoporosis. They also show that the drug decreases the risk of non-vertebral fractures in women with osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of risedronate in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. A Markov model was applied to a UK setting. Treatment effects were computed by meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials and given over 5 years to subjects aged between 60 and 80 years. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and life years gained were used as outcome measures. Intervention with risedronate was cost-effective in women aged 60 years and older. Cost savings were also found for postmenopausal women aged 70 years and older with established vertebral osteoporosis (a prior spine fracture and BMD T-score < or =-2.5 SD). This treatment was cost-effective for women aged 65 years and older who had a prior vertebral fracture and a BMD T-score at the threshold of osteoporosis ( T-score=-2.5 SD), and in women with a T-score < or =-2.5 SD, but without a prior vertebral fracture. In women aged 60-80 years and at the threshold of osteoporosis ( T-score=-2.5 SD) but without a prior vertebral fracture, treatment exceeded the threshold for cost-effectiveness. However, if an additional, independent risk factor was assumed (e.g., corticosteroid use) treatment became cost-effective.

Aged↗

Practice patterns in patients at risk for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Patients suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions often take glucocorticoid medications over long periods of time. More than a million patients in the United States receive these agents each year. One of the most serious side effects of this treatment is glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). This study characterized glucocorticoid use and osteoporosis screening and treatment patterns within a large U.S. health maintenance organization (HMO). This retrospective cohort study (n=3,031) used the HMO's electronic medical record and databases to identify patients who were dispensed the equivalent of >5 mg of prednisone per day for at least 90 days from January 2000 through December 2001. It assessed the primary outcomes, the percent who received a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement from January 1996 through 6 months after the index glucocorticoid prescription and the percent dispensed an osteoporosis medication within 6 months before or after the index glucocorticoid prescription. The participants' mean age was 61.4 years, 60% were women, and the mean daily dose of corticosteroids was 20.0 mg of prednisone equivalents. The most frequent diagnoses associated with glucocorticoid use were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 25.8%; asthma, 21.4%; rheumatoid arthritis, 17.2%. Overall, only 9.8% of the population received a BMD measurement--13% of women and 4.9% of men; 38% were dispensed osteoporosis medications--57.1% of women and 8.9% of men; only 14.5% received treatment with antiresorptive medications other than hormone replacement therapy--18.3% of women and 8.9% of men. Our study found that a substantial proportion of patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy did not receive BMD measurement or preventive therapy for osteoporosis, as recommended in GIOP practice guidelines. Future research should focus on understanding barriers to GIOP identification and facilitating osteoporosis management.

Adolescent↗

Use of dental panoramic radiographs in identifying younger postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION: Eroded or thin inferior cortex of the mandible detected on dental panoramic radiographs may be useful for identifying postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) or osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether these panoramic measurements are useful for identifying low BMD or osteoporosis in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years. METHODS: We compared the diagnostic performances of panoramic measurements with those of the osteoporosis self-assessment tool (OST) for identifying women with low BMD (T-score of -2.0 or less at either the lumbar spine or the femoral neck) and osteoporosis (T score of -2.5 or less) in 158 healthy Japanese postmenopausal women aged 46 years to 64 years. Mandibular cortical shape (erosion) and width were evaluated on dental panoramic radiographs. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff thresholds for cortical width and OST index. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity, respectively, for identifying women with low BMD were 82.3% and 55.2% for OST index, 79.0% and 50.0% for cortical width, and 72.6% and 74.0% for cortical shape. The sensitivity and specificity, respectively, for identifying women with osteoporosis were 86.7% and 46.9% for OST index, 90.0% and 45.3% for cortical width, and 86.7% and 65.6% for cortical shape. Likelihood ratio for identifying women with low BMD was 13.90 for thin cortical width (<3.0 mm) and 10.84 for severely eroded cortex. That for identifying women with osteoporosis was 6.40 for thin cortical width and 7.11 for severely eroded cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists may be able to refer postmenopausal women younger than 65 years for bone densitometry on the basis of incidental findings on dental panoramic radiographs.

Bone Density↗

Device-specific thresholds to diagnose osteoporosis at the proximal femur: an approach to interpreting peripheral bone measurements in clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: A single T score criterion cannot be universally applied to different peripheral bone measurement devices, since measurements in an identical population result in a tenfold difference in the prevalence of osteoporosis. The use of peripheral devices is increasing in clinical practice, despite the difficulties in interpreting results. We propose the use of two thresholds, which have either 95% sensitivity or 95% specificity, to identify (1) individuals who require treatment or (2) individuals who require no treatment, both based on a peripheral measurement alone, or (3) individuals who require additional central densitometry measurements. METHODS: We recruited 500 postmenopausal women, 100 premenopausal women and 279 women with proximal femoral, vertebral, distal forearm or proximal humeral fractures. All subjects underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements of the lumbar spine, total hip and distal forearm, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of the distal forearm and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the heel (four devices), finger (two devices), radius and metatarsal. We identified the threshold for each device that identified women without osteoporosis with the same sensitivity (upper threshold set at 95%) as total hip DXA and women with osteoporosis with the same specificity (lower threshold set at 95%) as total hip DXA. Individuals between the two thresholds required additional examination by central densitometry. RESULTS: The correlation between devices varied from 0.173 (QUS finger) to 0.686 (DXA forearm) compared with total hip DXA (P<0.0001). The area under the curve (AUC) between devices varied from 0.604 (QUS finger) to 0.896 (DXA forearm) compared with total hip DXA (P<0.0001). In a population-based cohort (prevalence of osteoporosis 9.8%) the threshold approach appropriately identified between 26% (QUS heel) and 68% (DXA forearm) of subjects in whom a treatment decision could be made without additional central DXA with 95% certainty. In a fracture cohort (prevalence of osteoporosis 36%) between 16% (QUS finger) and 37% (QCT forearm) of subjects were appropriately identified. CONCLUSION: The threshold approach to interpreting peripheral bone measurements enables a substantial number of individuals with either normal bone mineral density (BMD) or osteoporosis to be selected and treated appropriately.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Adherence of academic geriatric practitioners to osteoporosis screening guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the bone mineral density (BMD) testing habits of geriatricians and geriatric fellows at the University of Connecticut fellowship training program to evaluate their adherence screening guidelines. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: University based academic geriatric practice in Farmington, CT. PARTICIPANTS: Chart review of two hundred female patients over age 65 under care of seven faculty geriatricians and eight geriatric fellows in training. MEASUREMENTS: Data collected included BMD testing status, patient's osteoporosis risk factors and functional status. RESULTS: Physicians ordered BMD tests in 151 (76%) patients; 128 (64%) had a bone mineral density test within three years. A personal history of fracture was the only osteoporosis risk factor that correlated to higher rates of osteoporosis testing. Physicians were more likely to order BMD screening in younger patients (92% in 65-74 vs. 74% in ages 85+, P=.031), patients independent in activities of daily living (72% vs. 32, P=.002), and patients without dementia (70% vs.37%, p=.007). BMD testing results found 82% with osteopenia or osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: A geriatric group that is highly attuned to bone health demonstrated more optimal adherence to OP testing guidelines for all "at-risk" older women and better than reported previously. Functional status more strongly predicted BMD testing than osteoporosis risk factors. This study suggests that with improved physician education and familiarity with the disease, high rates of BMD testing for earlier identification of geriatric patients at risk for osteoporosis are achievable.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Depressive symptoms as a risk factor for osteoporosis and fractures in older Mexican American women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Despite higher rates of depression, lower hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use, and inadequate knowledge of factors associated with osteoporosis, Mexican Americans have been understudied with regards to the association between depression, osteoporosis, and fractures. We hypothesized that depression increases the risk for osteoporosis and fractures among older Mexican American women. METHODS: Seven years of prospective data (1993-2001) from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly were analyzed for 1,350 women in the Southwest United States who had complete data for at least the first follow-up interview. RESULTS: Respondents (mean age:75) were generally poorly educated, had low income, and reported poor or fair health. High levels of depressive symptoms were reported by 31%, while new diagnosis of osteoporosis and new fractures were reported by 18 and 13%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that predictors of newly diagnosed osteoporosis included age, high school (HS) education, ever having been an alcoholic, early menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and high levels of depressive symptoms. Factors predictive of new fractures included age, HS education, diabetes, early menopause, and high levels of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms were associated with increased risk of osteoporosis and new fractures, even after controlling for other predictive factors.

Aged↗

Attitudes to osteoporosis and hormone replacement therapy among elderly women.

This study compares the attitudes toward osteoporosis and its treatment between a group of elderly women admitted to hospital for therapy of an osteoporotic fracture and a control group admitted for joint replacement surgery. We surveyed 97 women (64 with a fracture, and 33 controls) and found that the two groups of patients demonstrated a similar risk factor profile for osteoporosis and poor knowledge of osteoporosis and its available treatments, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT). By selecting a control group of women with no recent fracture, we hoped to highlight the effect of sustaining a recent fracture on attitudes to treatment. Initially only 10% (8 in the fracture group and 2 in the control group) were interested in treatment for osteoporosis, but those women who had been admitted with a fracture were significantly more receptive to education about osteoporosis and to the offer of further investigation and treatment of osteoporosis (38 versus 10, p = 0.007). We conclude that it is worthwhile offering education, screening and treatment to elderly patients who present with a fracture.

Aged↗

Prevalence of osteoporosis by educational level in a cohort of postmenopausal women.

To evaluate whether the prevalence of osteoporosis and related risk factors might be influenced by the level of education, as has been demonstrated for many other chronic diseases, 6160 postmenopausal women at their first densitometric referral were interviewed about reproductive variables, past and current use of estrogens, prevalence of chronic diseases, and lifestyle factors such as calcium intake, physical activity, smoking and overweight. This sample was stratified by years of formal education. Densitometric evaluation was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Age at menarche, past exposure to oral contraceptives, use of hormone replacement therapy, prevalence of chronic diseases, physical activity, overweight and smoking showed significant trends according to the years of education. The prevalence of osteoporosis showed an inverse relationship with level of education, ranging from 18.3% for the most educated to 27.8% for the least educated women. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated a predictive role toward osteoporosis by age, age at menarche and menopause, hormone replacement therapy, calcium intake, physical activity and body mass index. Using the lowest educational level as reference category, increases in educational status were associated with a significantly reduced risk for osteoporosis (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.90 for 6-8 years of schooling; OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.57-0.82 for 9 years or more). This study shows differences in the prevalence of osteoporosis among educational classes and the protective role played by increases in formal education. If these results are confirmed in other population studies, public health intervention programs will have to consider the socioeconomic and cultural background of the population strata that run a greater risk of osteoporosis.

Adult↗

The role of serum TGF-beta isoforms as potential markers of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) that presently has no biochemical test useful for its diagnosis. The cytokine TGF-beta has been postulated to play a role in controlling bone density by regulating the fine balance between bone matrix deposition by osteoblasts and its resorption by osteoclasts. We explored whether measurement of serum levels of different TGF-beta isoforms could be useful as a clinical tool in osteoporosis. We measured the concentration of TGF-beta1 antigen using the BDA19 capture sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), TGF-beta2 antigen concentration using a Quantikine sandwich ELISA kit and TGF-beta3 antigen concentration using a modified version of the TGF-beta1 Quantikine sandwich ELISA kit. Subjects were 41 women with osteoporosis (with nontraumatic vertebral fracture or lumbar spine BMD Z-score <-1.5 SD) and a total of 199 control women from different sources. Serum concentrations of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 were similar in all groups. However, detectable levels of TGF-beta3 (>0.2 ng/ml) were found in 35 of 41 patients with osteoporosis (median 7.2 (5.2-8.9) ng/ml) compared with 11 of 36 controls or 24 of 89 healthy women of unknown bone density. Differences among the groups could not be accounted for by age, weight, medications, use of hormone replacement therapy or the presence of osteoarthritis. Using the optimal cut-off of >/=2 ng/ml, the test was able to detect an individual with low spine BMD (Z-score <-1.5) with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 53%, with similar results for the femoral neck. The odds ratio for osteoporosis associated with a positive test at this level was 5.93 (95% CI 2.41-11.59), and 4.1 (95% CI 1.66-10.11) using the WHO cut-off of T-score <-2.5. Serum TGF-beta3 concentration is raised in osteoporotic women and the test appears to have potential as a marker for osteoporosis. The underlying mechanisms and the relationships between TGF-beta3 and bone turnover and fractures remain to be explored.

Analysis of Variance↗

Hand ultrasound for osteoporosis screening in postmenopausal women.

There is a need for low-cost screening methods to detect low bone mass (osteopenia or osteoporosis) in postmenopausal women. The utility of quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) of the hand was assessed for osteoporosis screening using the WHO criteria. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in 206 postmenopausal Mexican-American women at the total hip and lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS) was measured in the phalanges by QUS. Subjects identified by DXA as having osteopenia or osteoporosis had significantly lower AD-SoS values in comparison with normals. Estrogen users had significantly higher spine and hip BMD and AD-SoS values compared with non-estrogen users. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) for AD-SoS to screen for osteoporosis (T-score < or = -2.5) at the spine or hip were 0.73 for all subjects, 0.74 for estrogen users and 0.68 for non-estrogen users. The AUC for non-estrogen users to screen for osteopenia (T-score -1 to -2.5) was 0.77. Performance comparisons of AD-SoS with SCORE (a risk factor questionnaire) and body weight showed AUC values of 0.73, 0.69 and 0.65, respectively. QUS was the superior screening test when considering both the AUC and the shape of the ROC curves. For non-estrogen users, the group at higher risk for osteoporosis, QUS correctly identified 31% as normal, and 62% as having low bone mass and needing DXA referral; and the remaining 7% were false negatives. These data suggest phalangeal QUS can be effectively used for screening osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗