title: Increased osteoporosis screening rates associated with the provision of a preventive health examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined the frequencies of (1) female patients aged 65 years and older having bone density measurement performed and (2) prescription therapy use among osteoporotic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We completed a retrospective chart audit to assess our adherence to Physician Quality Reporting Initiative guidelines. Women aged 65 to 75 with an office visit between June 1 to November 30, 2007, were divided into 3 subgroups: those who had a recent preventive general medical examination (GME), those who received one in the last 10 years, and those who had not. We determined osteoporosis screening rates for all 3 groups. The first group then underwent electronic medical record review to obtain patient demographics, determine bone mineral density results, and review if those with osteoporosis were receiving prescription treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six percent of 305 female patients seen for a GME during the study period had completed bone mineral density testing. This was a screening rate significantly greater than that for patients with an earlier GME and those who never had one in our offices (70% and 50%, respectively). Seventy-seven percent of recent GME patients had abnormal T scores. Low weight and body mass index were significantly associated with osteoporotic T scores. Seventy-four percent of patients whose latest T scores were less than -2.5 were receiving prescription therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female patients who completed a recent GME had extraordinarily high rates of screening for osteoporosis. We believe this demonstrates the importance of a dedicated preventive health examination as well as the increased significance that physicians and patients currently place on this behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 13737, USA. Grover.michael@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haden
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartmark-Hill
authors.forename: Lynn Marie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Morski
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: Amylou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dueck
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies