Final Recommendation Statement:

Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures

Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on screening for osteoporosis to prevent fractures. The Task Force found that screening for osteoporosis can prevent fractures in women 65 years and older and in women younger than 65 years who are at increased risk. More research is needed for men. To view the recommendation and the evidence on which it is based, please go here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the June 26 online issue of JAMA.

The Final Recommendation Statement Is Available

FINAL RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

See the full statement

Population

Recommendation

Grade

Women 65 years and older

The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis with bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic fractures in women 65 years and older.

Postmenopausal women younger than 65 years at increased risk of osteoporosis

The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis with bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years who are at increased risk of osteoporosis, as determined by a formal clinical risk assessment tool.

Men

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for osteoporosis to prevent osteoporotic fractures in men.

WHY THIS MATTERS

"Without screening, most women won’t know that they have osteoporosis until they have a fracture. Screening and treatment can help prevent these fractures,” says Task Force member Chien-Wen Tseng, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.E.E. “Based on the evidence, we recommend screening for women over the age of 65 and younger women who have been through menopause and are at increased risk for osteoporosis.”