Guideline for Osteoporosis Screening in Men

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued a clinical practice guideline on screening for osteoporosis in men. The guideline is based on a systematic evidence review of 269 studies that examined risk factors and 20 that examined diagnostic tests. Although often viewed as a problem primarily of women, osteoporosis is prevalent among U.S. men (affecting 7% of white men), underdiagnosed, and often untreated.

The review identified moderate- to high-quality evidence that the following risk factors are associated with low bone-mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures in men:

• Age, >70

• Low body weight

• Weight loss

• Physical inactivity

• Previous osteoporotic fracture

• Prolonged systemic corticosteroid therapy or androgen deprivation therapy

Oth…