Internal Medicine Report: Screening for Osteoporosis in Men Medical Video by Geriatrics

Internal Medicine Report: Screening for Osteoporosis in Men

Geriatrics

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Description

Osteoporosis is often viewed as a women's health issue, but one in 16 men over 65 suffers from the disease, and few men are currently tested or diagnosed. Because of the aging population, a dramatic increase in osteoporosis among men is expected in the near future. New recommendations from the American College of Physicians call for physicians to screen for osteoporosis in older men, especially those over the age of 65. Osteoporosis is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated in men, and studies show that osteoporotic fractures result in substantial disease, death, and health costs in men. Risk factors for osteoporosis in men are older age, low body weight, weight loss, physical inactivity, previous fractures not caused by substantial trauma, ongoing use of certain drugs (such as corticosteroids like prednisone or drugs that are sometimes used to treat prostate cancer), and low-calcium diets. Physicians should obtain a DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan for men who are at increased risk for osteoporosis and are candidates for drug therapy.