New Guidelines for Osteoporosis in Men

The American College of Physicians has issued new guidelines
to bring awareness to osteoporosis screening in older men.

"Osteoporosis is not just a women's disease," says Amir Qaseem, MD,
PhD, MHA, of the American College of Physicians, in a news release. "Not
enough older men are being screened."

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become less dense, more porous,
and more susceptible to fractures. It is commonly thought of as a problem for
postmenopausal women, but it can also occur in men.

The American College of Physicians reports that the prevalence of
osteoporosis is estimated to be 7% of white men, 5% of African-American men,
and 3% of Hispanic men in the U.S. But the group says those figures are
expected to grow as the population ages within the next 15 years.

Among the new guidelines:

• Clinicians should periodically assess older men for risk factors of
  osteoporosis.


• Clinicians should obtain DXA tests for men who are at increased risk for
  osteoporosis and candidates for medication treatment. The DXA test (dual-energy
  X-ray absorptiometry) measures bone density.


• More research is recommended to assess screening tests for osteoporosis in
  men.

• Age over 70


• Low body weight    


• Recent weight loss of more than 10%


• Lack of physical exercise


• Use of some medications such as corticosteroids

By Kelley Colihan
Reviewed by Louise Chang
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