Treatment and prevention practices in postmenopausal women after bone mineral density screening at a community-based osteoporosis project.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the use of treatment and prevention practices in postmenopausal women who have received the results of an osteoporosis screening. METHODS: Telephone survey to follow-up with women who underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning at a community-wide osteoporosis screening project. Participants categorized by their scan results as having normal bone mineral density or low bone mineral density were asked about their osteoporosis treatment and prevention practices since receiving their scan results. RESULTS: Two hundred nineteen women were interviewed. Calcium supplement use increased significantly in both groups (P=.002). There was no significant difference in the number of women using alendronate sodium, calcitonin, and selective estrogen receptor modulators before and after screening. Both groups reported increases in exercise levels and dairy intake, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the use of over-the-counter calcium supplements increases after osteoporosis screening. However, the use of treatments that require a physician prescription does not increase after screening regardless of the patient's bone mineral density status.

Prevalence of prevention and treatment modalities used in populations at risk of osteoporosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Determine prevalence of osteoporosis screening and prevention and modes of treatment in women older than 65 years at risk of osteoporosis. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of older female patients seeking osteoporosis screening in the community setting. RESULTS: 399 women at risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning. Among participants younger than 65 years (n=52), low BMD was diagnosed in 44.2%; among participants older than 65 years (n=347), low BMD was diagnosed in 70.0%, a statistically significant difference (P=.001). CONCLUSION: From a community-level perspective, the authors have shown that osteoporosis screening at local senior centers, living facilities, and health fairs is an effective tool for identifying low BMD in women at high risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis.