The 2011 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) sought to update their recommendation on screening for osteoporosis. As per the USPSTF recommendation, women 65 years and older should be screened for osteoporosis with bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic fractures. (B recommendation) The USPSTF recommends screening postmenopausal women younger than 65 years at increased risk of osteoporosis, as determined by a formal clinical risk assessment tool, for osteoporosis with bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic fractures. (B recommendation) The USPSTF highlights the insufficiency of the current evidence in assessing the balance of benefits and harms of screening for osteoporosis to prevent osteoporotic fractures in men. (I statement)

Methods

• The USPSTF went over the evidence on screening for and treatment of osteoporotic fractures in men and women.
• In addition, the USPSTF reviewed the risk assessment tools, screening intervals, and efficacy of screening and treatment in subgroups.
• Postmenopausal women and older men with no known previous osteoporotic fractures and no known comorbid conditions or medication use associated with secondary osteoporosis comprised the screening population.

Results

• The USPSTF discovered convincing evidence showing the accuracy of bone measurement tests for detecting osteoporosis and predicting osteoporotic fractures in women and men.
• The USPSTF identified adequate evidence indicating moderate accuracy of clinical risk assessment tools in determining risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures.
• The USPSTF found convincing evidence suggesting efficacy of drug therapies in reducing subsequent fracture rates in postmenopausal women.
• The USPSTF identified the insufficiency of the current evidence in assessing the effectiveness of drug therapies in reducing subsequent fracture rates in men without previous fractures.