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Pharmacological treatment

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Handbook of Osteoporosis

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Abstract

Pharmacological treatment is indicated for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis or borderline bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in the presence of additional risk factors, and for women for whom non-pharmacological approaches have failed to prevent further bone loss or low-impact fractures. The availability of the new FRAX tool (see Chapter 5) has enabled intervention thresholds to be developed based on 10-year fracture prediction. In the USA universal thresholds for intervention have been suggested by the National Osteoporosis Foundation based on those who have a >20% 10-year risk of major osteoporotic fracture or a >3% risk of hip fracture [1]. In the UK a consensus group has recently launched national guidelines showing a cost-effective but variable threshold for intervention based on FRAX output but taking into account the steep rise of risk with age [2].

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  1. Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Aberdeen, UK

    David M Reid (Professor of Rheumatology, Head)

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Reid, D.M. (2011). Pharmacological treatment. In: Handbook of Osteoporosis. Springer Healthcare, Tarporley. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-908517-10-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-908517-10-4_7

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