Osteoporosis - prevention and detection in general practice.

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis causes a large and growing health burden in Australia. Effective treatments are available, but these are inconsistently implemented. There is some inconsistency in expert advice on who should be recommended to have bone densitometry.

OBJECTIVE

This review draws on the available high level evidence for what works in prevention and discusses the rationale for using absolute risk estimations for decision making.

DISCUSSION

Effective interventions for the prevention and early intervention of osteoporosis have not been delivered as widely as they should be. Efforts should be focused on offering treatment to those groups with the highest risk of fracture, particularly those that have had a fragility fracture. There is synergy in the lifestyle recommendations for bone health with other aspects of health, so these should be addressed as thoroughly as possible.