Diagnosis, screening and treatment of osteoporosis - A review

Osteoporosis is the multifactorial skeletal disease that leads to fracture risk in individuals. It is characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density leading to increased fracture risk. It is often silent and only known when fractures occur in the elderly leading to death. The reason is that the disease is always underdiagnosed and not treated properly. It affects men and women, but women are more susceptible to it due to estrogen deficiency. Osteoporosis is diagnosed based on the fragility fractures, low bone mineral density assessed by DEXA scan. Pharmacological (anti-resorptive and anabolic drugs) and lifestyle modifications (dietary intake, weight-bearing exercise, hip protectors, and fall prevention measures) are helpful in the prevention and treatment of Osteoporosis. Clinicians must take proper measures in finding out the patients who are at higher risk of Osteoporosis and providing treatment by either diagnosing or by screening the previous history of fracture risk in the patients. This article provides an overview of the diagnosis, screening, and treatment of Osteoporosis.