Diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease in postmenopausal women that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis, the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, and bone micro- and macroarchitecture deteriorates. Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health Organization as a BMD of 2.5 standard deviations or more below the mean peak bone mass (average of young and healthy adults) as measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Diagnosis of osteoporosis can be made using BMD measurement. The most popular method of measuring BMD is DEXA. In treatment, we can use various exercises and nutritional supplementation, medications, and lifestyle modification for the prevention of fractures. © Korean Medical Association.