Woodhead G A, Moss M M
Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Mass., USA.
Nurse Pract. 1998 Nov;23(11):18, 23-7, 31-2 passim; quiz 35-7.
Osteoporosis affects about 8 million Americans, mostly women. The incidence and cost of the disease are rising as the population and its life expectancy increase. Each year 1.5 million individuals with osteoporosis suffer debilitating fractures of the spine, hip, or forearm. The primary health care provider is positioned to detect osteoporosis and its risk factors before signs and symptoms occur. Early detection can be achieved through any one of several diagnostic modalities, including bone mineral density tests and the use of biochemical markers. Once a clinician determines that a patient has many risk factors, bone mineral density testing should be performed. If the test results confirm the clinician's suspicion, therapeutic options should be discussed. Although treatment options exist, the most effective method of dealing with osteoporosis is prevention, including modification of risk factors (for example, diet and lifestyle) and the use of hormone replacement therapy, raloxifene, or alendronate therapy.
骨质疏松症影响着约800万美国人，其中大多数为女性。随着人口增长和预期寿命的增加，该疾病的发病率和治疗成本也在上升。每年有150万骨质疏松症患者会发生脊柱、髋部或前臂的致残性骨折。初级医疗保健提供者能够在体征和症状出现之前检测出骨质疏松症及其风险因素。早期检测可以通过多种诊断方式中的任何一种来实现，包括骨密度测试和使用生化标志物。一旦临床医生确定患者有多种风险因素，就应进行骨密度测试。如果测试结果证实了临床医生的怀疑，就应该讨论治疗方案。虽然存在治疗选择，但应对骨质疏松症最有效的方法是预防，包括改变风险因素（例如饮食和生活方式）以及使用激素替代疗法、雷洛昔芬或阿仑膦酸盐疗法。
