Osteoporosis


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Osteoporosis results from a gradual loss of bone density throughout the skeleton. Osteoporosis puts a person at increased risk for bone fractures. Both men and women can be at risk for osteoporosis as they age. For women, the risk especially increases once they reach menopause.

A bone mineral density test called a DEXA scan is a method for determining your risk of a fracture due to osteoporosis. Since most women (particularly those younger than 65) who undergo a DEXA scan do not turn out to have osteoporosis, a number of tools have been developed to figure out whether or not someone would benefit from bone mineral density testing.

Here is one such tool based on the Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE) method for postmenopausal women. While it does not include all risk factors for osteoporosis, it does include some that can be mathematically incorporated into an assessment tool.

If your results suggest that you are a candidate for bone mineral density testing, this does not mean that you have osteoporosis. It simply means you should talk to your doctor about having your bone mineral density formally evaluated.

Please answer the following questions:

1. How old are you?40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80-89
90-99

2. How much do you weigh? pounds

3. Which of the following most accurately describes your race?White
African-American
Hispanic
Asian
Other

4. Have you ever used hormone replacement therapy (estrogen or estrogen and progesterone)?Yes
No

5. Have you ever been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis?Yes
No

6. How many times have you broken any of the following bones from light trauma: forearm (including wrist), hip, or rib? (Do not include fractures that resulted from significant trauma like car accidents and major falls.) Never
Once
Two times
Three or more times

Sources:

Cadarette, Suzanne M. MSc. Jaglal, Susan B. PhD. Murray, Timothy M. MD. McIsaac, Warren J. MD, MSc. Joseph, Lawrence PhD. Brown, Jacques P. MD. for the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos).Evaluation of Decision Rules for Referring Women for Bone Densitometry by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry.JAMA. 286(1):57-63, July 4, 2001.

Lydick E, Cook K, Turpin J, Melton M, Stine R, Byrnes C.Development and validation of a simple questionnaire to facilitate identification of women likely to have low bone density.Am J Manag Care. 1998;4:37-48.