Guidelines for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis for general practitioners.
BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis Australia has been committed to the education of general practitioners and the community with a series of updated guidelines on the management of osteoporosis. Since the last series was published in Australian Family Physician (August 2000), there have been further advances in our understanding of the treatments involved in both prevention of bone loss and the management of established osteoporosis.


OBJECTIVE
This article represents updated guidelines for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis to assist GPs identify those women at risk and to review current treatment strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Osteoporosis and its associated problems are major health concerns in Australia, especially with an aging population. While important principles of management are still considered to be maximising peak bone mass and preventing postmenopausal bone loss, new clinical trial data about drugs such as the bisphosphonates, raloxifene and oestrogen have recently become available and the relative role of various agents is gradually becoming clearer. The use of long term hormone replacement therapy has mixed risks and benefits that requires individual patient counselling.
O'Neill
Sheila
S
Betty Byrne Henderson Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Queensland. s.oneill@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Sambrook
Philip
P
Diamond
Terry
T
Ebeling
Peter
P
Ferris
Linda
L
Flicker
Leon
L
Findlay
David
D
Singh
Maria Fiatarone
MF
Lord
Stephen
S
MacLennan
Alastair
A
Markwell
Alex
A
Nowson
Caryl
C
Pocock
Nick
N
Williamson
Margaret
M
D001315:Australia; D019091:Critical Pathways; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior