Guidelines for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis for GPs.
BACKGROUND
Since the last series of guidelines on the management of osteoporosis from Osteoporosis Australia was published in Australian Family Physician (October 2002), there have been further advances in our understanding of the treatment involved in both the prevention of bone loss and the management of established osteoporosis.


OBJECTIVE
This article provides updated guidelines for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis to assist general practitioners identify those women at risk, and reviews 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 therapy has mixed risks and benefits that requires individual patient counselling.
O'Neill
Sheila
S
Betty Byrne Henderson Women's Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland. s.oneill@uq.edu.au
MacLennan
Alastair
A
Bass
Shona
S
Diamond
Terry
T
Ebeling
Peter
P
Findlay
David
D
Flicker
Leon
L
Markwell
Alex
A
Nowson
Caryl
C
Pocock
Nick
N
Sambrook
Philip
P
Singh
Maria Fiatarone
MF
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D015415:Biomarkers; D004164:Diphosphonates; D004232:Diuretics; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes; C081587:strontium ranelate; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium