title: Guidelines for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis for GPs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Betty Byrne Henderson Women's Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland. s.oneill@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacLennan
authors.forename: Shona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flicker
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markwell
authors.forename: Caryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nowson
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pocock
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sambrook
authors.forename: Maria Fiatarone
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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