• Rationale and Comments

    Initial screening for osteoporosis should be performed according to National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) recommendations. The optimal interval for repeating DEXA scans is uncertain, but because changes in bone density over short intervals are often smaller than the measurement error of most DEXA scanners, frequent testing (e.g., < 2 years) is unnecessary in most patients. Even in high-risk patients receiving drug therapy for osteoporosis, DEXA changes do not always correlate with probability of fracture. Therefore, DEXA should only be repeated if the result will influence clinical management or if rapid changes in bone density are expected. Recent evidence also suggests that healthy women 67 years and older with normal bone mass may not need additional DEXA testing for up to 10 years provided osteoporosis risk factors do not significantly change.

    Sponsoring Organizations

    • American College of Rheumatology

    Sources

    • U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
    • National Osteoporosis Foundation

    Disciplines

    • Preventive Medicine
    • Rheumatologic

    References

    • Grossman JM, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2010 recommendations for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010;62(11):1515-26.
    • Clinician’s guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis., Washington, D.C.: National Osteoporosis Foundation; 2008:1–36.
    • U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for osteoporosis: recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med;154(5):356-64.