Recognition and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a common but often silent condition among older adults. The characteristic pathological changes associated with osteoporosis may go unnoticed until a fracture occurs or a bone density test is performed. Although osteoporosis occurs in men and among premenopausal women, it is most prevalent among postmenopausal women who are the focus of this article. Within the subpopulation of postmenopausal women, there are major differences in risk status, disease severity, and response to treatment. Two individual examples are presented to highlight these differences and to illustrate appropriate assessment and treatment strategies in each scenario. In addition, general nonpharmacological recommendations for postmenopausal women across risk status and disease severity are presented.
Freda
F
Hannafon
Mary P
MP
Cadogan
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index