Diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis should be expanded

Abstract

As a relatively newly classified chronic disease, scientific enquiry about pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment for osteoporosis has rapidly increased in the past three decades. Under the direction of the National Bone Health Alliance, a working group has proposed expansion of the diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis in men and postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older to include individuals with any of the following: a hip fracture (with or without bone mineral density [BMD] testing); low bone mass as determined by BMD and a vertebral, proximal humeral, pelvic, or, in some cases, distal forearm fracture; or raised fracture risk based on the WHO fracture risk algorithm, FRAX.