Osteoporosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and management.

Abstract

Osteoporosis has emerged as a major and increasing health problem requiring interventions at both the individual and community levels. Most cases of osteoporosis are found among women after the menopause, since menopausal status and age are key predictors of fracture risk. This review has focused particularly on osteoporosis occurring in postmenopausal women: the magnitude of the problem, how it occurs, how it is diagnosed, strategies in prevention and treatment. The diagnosis of osteoporosis and identification of individuals with heightened fracture risk due to osteopenia have been greatly facilitated by the development of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, a simple, safe, highly precise tec..