[Osteoporosis screening--indications for bone densitometry].

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem because of increasing prevalence and the cost of related morbidity, especially fractures of the spine and hip. The perimenopausal evaluation of risk patients by assessment of clinical risk factors and bone-mass measurements are used to select patients for prevention of postmenopausal and age-associated bone loss. The value of bone-mass for prediction of fracture-risk and the clinical significance of bone-densitometry for patient management is reviewed. Four essential clinical indications for bone mass assessment are discussed.