title: Management recommendations for osteoporosis in clinical guidelines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous guidelines advise about management of osteoporosis, but little research has been conducted on their recommendations. We analysed recommendations on management of bone health in clinical guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed recommendations on assessment, treatment and monitoring of bone health in 78 clinical guidelines (22 primary focus osteoporosis, 56 primary focus not osteoporosis) lodged at the Agency for Health Research and Quality National Guidelines Clearinghouse between 1/1/2009 and 12/31/2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Governance of guidelines; discussion of fracture risk in the target population; recommendations for assessment, treatment and monitoring of bone health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 14% of guidelines discussed fracture risk in the target population. When guidelines discussed assessment, 98% recommended bone mineral density (BMD) measurement but only 27% recommended estimation of fracture risk. When guidelines discussed treatment, 63-71% recommended calcium and/or vitamin D, while <12% recommended avoiding low body weight or smoking cessation. When guidelines discussed intervention, 53% did so on the basis of BMD measurement, and only 27% on the basis of estimated fracture risk. When guidelines discussed monitoring, >90% recommended BMD measurements, and only 3% recommended estimation of fracture risk. About 65% of guidelines that suggested a BMD monitoring interval recommended one of ≤3 years. Compared to guidelines with a primary focus on osteoporosis, guidelines whose primary focus was not osteoporosis were less likely to discuss fracture risk in the target population (2% vs 45%), recommend estimation of fracture risk (11% vs 55%) and recommend intervention on the basis of estimated fracture risk (10% vs 67%) (all P < 0·005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings highlight a strong focus in clinical guidelines on BMD, a surrogate measure, rather than fracture risk, the clinically important outcome, particularly when bone health is not the primary focus. Addressing this issue might facilitate more rational use of resources and improve patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grey
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019468:Disease Management; D015444:Exercise; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D