Improved strategies for diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis

Objective: Osteoporosis is a silent epidemic that afflicts millions of postmenopausal women around the world. Osteoporosis places an enormous economic burden on society, including significant morbidity and mortality. Because of the increasing numbers of patients with osteoporosis, primary care physicians have become the front line for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Thus, the primary care provider should be able to diagnose osteoporosis in both asymptomatic and symptomatic women, perform a thorough workup to exclude secondary causes of osteoporosis, and optimally prevent and treat osteoporosis using the various forms of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. Design: Review of current Literature and articles dealing with pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. Results: Diagnostic and therapeutic modalities can reduce the incidence of fractures. Conclusions: The diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis has greatly improved but needs further efforts to prevent the disease. (C) 1999, The North American Menopause Society.