(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Measuring bone density is the most common way of
diagnosing osteoporosis, but how often should we get tested?
Researchers from Canada note older women and men have more hip fractures
because bone loss accelerates as they age. Scientists wanted to find the
average rate of change in bone mineral density as people get older.
More than 9,000 Canadians were in the study. Participants had their bone
mineral density measured in the spine, hip and neck when the study began,
and at three-year and five-year follow up visits.
Results show antiresorptive medication reduces bone loss. Even among women
aged 50-54 – where there was the greatest bone loss – the rate was only 1.3
percent per year. This is consistent with rates of bone loss found in other
studies. The authors also note that the 1.3 percent loss is within the
margin of error of most bone densitometry machines.
“The extent of the bone loss that we observed suggests that repeat
measurements of bone density could be delayed to intervals of up to 5 years
in the absence of other risk factors,” conclude the authors.
In a related commentary, Dr. Mark Cooper from the United Kingdom, stresses
that the change in bones over time is complex and that bone density is only
one of many factors that can influence someone’s risk for fracture.
SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2008;178:1660-1668
