Common Questions
How does fracture history influence patient management?
Fracture history determines whether a patient is a candidate for prevention or treatment.
- History of fracture = treatment
- No fracture history = prevention
This is an important distinction for several reasons:
- The threshold for intervention for a given BMD will vary based on fracture history.
- The number needed to treat to prevent fracture is much lower in those with established osteoporosis.
- The risk associated with a therapy may be more acceptable in someone with established disease, i.e., as treatment rather than as prevention.
- Drug and lifestyle interventions are sometimes tested and/or approved for treatment but not prevention.