title: 2015 Guidelines for Osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: Recommendations from the Saudi Osteoporosis Society.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide guidelines for medical professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A panel of 14 local experts in osteoporosis assembled to provide consensus based on the strength of evidence and expert opinions on osteoporosis treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Saudi Osteoporosis Society (SOS) formed a panel of experts who performed an extensive published studies search to formulate recommendations regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia. Both local and international published studies were utilized whenever available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is still the golden standard for assessing bone mineral density (BMD). In the absence of local, country-specific fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX), the SOS recommends using the USA (White) version of the FRAX tool. All women above 60 years of age should be evaluated for BMD. This is because the panel recognized that osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures occur at a younger age in Saudi Arabia. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not recommended for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. BMD evaluation should be performed 1-2 years after initiating intervention, and the assessment of bone turnover biomarkers should be performed whenever available to determine the efficacy of intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All Saudi women above the age of 60 years must undergo a BMD assessment using DXA. Therapy decisions should be formulated with the use of the USA (White) version of the FRAX tool.
authors.affiliation: Yousef Al-Saleh, MD, Assistant Professor,, College of Medicine,, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences,, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, T: +966(11)8011111 Ext.13056, F: +966(11)8011111 Ext. 14229, alaslawi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Saleh
authors.forename: Riad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sulimani
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabico
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raef
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fouda
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alshahrani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Shaker
authors.forename: Basma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Wahabi
authors.forename: Mir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadat-Ali
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Rayes
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Aidarous
authors.affiliation: Yousef Al-Saleh, MD, Assistant Professor,, College of Medicine,, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences,, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, T: +966(11)8011111 Ext.13056, F: +966(11)8011111 Ext. 14229, alaslawi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Siham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: Fakhr
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al Ayoubi
authors.forename: Nasser M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Daghri
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000592:standards; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators