New guidelines for accurate diagnosis, effective ethical treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Today the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) released new medical guidelines for the accurate diagnosis and effective ethical treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in affected patients. The executive summary will be published in the next issue of the association's official medical journal Endocrine Practice.

“We have used the best evidence to draft these guidelines, taking into consideration the economic impact of the disease and the need for efficient and effective evaluation and treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis”

Osteoporosis is a major public health issue in the US. These guidelines have been developed with the hopes of reducing the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures and to improve the quality of life for patients. The guidelines explain the new treatments available and suggest the use of the FRAX tool (a fracture risk assessment tool developed by the World Health Organization) and NOF guide (developed by the National Osteoporosis Foundation) to indentify candidates for treatment.

"We have used the best evidence to draft these guidelines, taking into consideration the economic impact of the disease and the need for efficient and effective evaluation and treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis," Nelson B. Watts, MD, MACE, and Chair of the AACE Osteoporosis Task Force said. "Right now less than one-third of the cases are diagnosed, and only one-seventh of women in the US with osteoporosis receive treatment."

More than 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and more than 35 million more low bone mass and are therefore at increased risk for developing osteoporosis and for fracturing. About 80 percent of these are women, most of them postmenopausal. AACE recommends high risk postmenopausal women should be screened immediately and all women 65 and older should be screened routinely.

Hip fractures are the most serious complication of osteoporosis. Half of all patients who could walk independently are unable to do so one year after a hip fracture. Hip fracture leads to an increased mortality rate for two years following the event. More than half of the survivors are unable to return to independent living and many require long-term nursing home care.