Increased osteoporosis screening rates associated with the provision of a preventive health examination.
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.
Grover
Michael
M
Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 13737, USA. Grover.michael@mayo.edu
Anderson
Matthew
M
Gupta
Rita
R
Haden
Matthew
M
Hartmark-Hill
Jennifer
J
Morski
Lynn Marie
LM
Sarmiento
Paul
P
Dueck
Amylou
A
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