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Bone Density Testing Intervals and Common Sense

  • Evaluation and Management (M Kleerekoper, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) is underutilized, contributing to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of osteoporosis. Appropriate patient selection for BMD testing leads to more people being treated, fewer fractures, and a decrease in fracture-related health care costs. Although there are well-established indications for BMD testing, it is less clear when a BMD test should be repeated for a patient who does not have osteoporosis and is found to be at low fracture risk with initial testing. BMD testing intervals should be individualized according to the likelihood that the results will influence treatment decisions.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: E.M. Lewiecki: has received financial support or owned personal investments in the following categories: Grant/research support (principal investigator, funding to New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center) for Amgen, Eli Lilly,

Merck, GlaxoSmithKline; Other support from Amgen (scientific advisory board, speakers’ bureau); Eli Lilly (scientific advisory board, speakers’ bureau); Novartis (speakers’ bureau); Merck (scientific advisory board); GlaxoSmithKline (consultant); and Warner Chilcott (speakers’ bureau); N. Binkley (Research support: Amgen, Lilly, Merck, Tarsa; Consultant: Lilly, Merck).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center, 300 Oak St. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA

    E. Michael Lewiecki

  2. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Neil Binkley

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  1. E. Michael Lewiecki
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  2. Neil Binkley
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Correspondence to E. Michael Lewiecki.

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Lewiecki, E.M., Binkley, N. Bone Density Testing Intervals and Common Sense. Curr Osteoporos Rep 10, 217–220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-012-0111-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-012-0111-6

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