USPSTF recommends osteoporosis screening for women aged 65 and older

© crevis - stock.adobe.com

Screening for osteoporosis has moderate net benefit for women aged 65 or older, but there’s not enough evidence to balance benefits and harms for screening in men.

On Jan. 14, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published its latest recommendations regarding “Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures,” in JAMA.

“Osteoporotic fractures are associated with psychological distress, subsequent fractures, loss of independence, reduced ability to perform activities of daily living, and death,” the task force said. Fractures can be life-changing, and even deadly, for older adults. USPSTF noted 40% to 60% of patients who break a hop will recover prefracture levels of mobility and ability to perform activities of daily life.

To prevent those bone breaks, physicians should screen for osteoporosis in women aged 65 and older, and in postmenopausal women younger than 65 but with increased risk.

USPSTF also mentioned related recommendations:

• Exercise interventions may help prevent falls in community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older and at increased risk of falling.
• In 2018, USPSTF recommended against vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent fractures in postmenopausal women. However, that recommendation is being updated. USPSTF is considering recommending against vitamin D supplements with or without calcium for the primary prevention of factures of community-dwelling postmenopausal women and men 60 years or older, and against supplementation with vitamin D for the prevention of falls in community-dwelling postmenopausal women and men 60 years or older.

Read the full recommendation here.