Osteoporosis Risk Factors

This article starts below.

The established risk factors for osteoporosis are grouped into major categories:

• age or age-related (body mass index less than 19 for Asians)
• genetic (parental history of hip fracture)
• environmental (use of corticosteroids longer than 3 months)
• estrogen or androgen deficiency and chronic diseases (malabsorption, hyperthyroidism)
• physical characteristics of bone

These risk factors cannot, however, replace bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in predicting fractures, but rather identify high risk group of individuals who should undergo dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination and screening.

Of the different determinants of bone strength, only BMD and bone turnover can be measured in patients with osteoporosis. There is good correlation between BMD and fracture risk. A reduction in the femoral neck bone mineral density increases the risk of hip fracture by a factor of two.

Excerpt from the National Guidelines for Osteoporosis Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment