Guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Abstract

The guidelines for the osteoporosis management were first drafted by a working group and then critically evaluated by the board of SIOMMMS. The most relevant points are: Definition: Osteoporosis is defined as a quantitative and qualitative deterioration of bone tissue leading to increased risk of fracture. Postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis are defined as primitive. Diagnosis: The cornerstone for the diagnosis of osteoporosis is the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA (dual-energy X-ray absortiometry) at the femoral neck with T-score values -2.5 is usually not justified. Pharmacological intervention: The use of drugs registered for the treatment of osteoporosis are recommended when the benefits overcome the risk. This is the case only when the risk of fracture is rather high. FRAX™ is recognized as a useful tool for easily estimate the long-term fracture risk. SIOMMMS with these guidelines is committed to validate and further develop this diagnostic tool.