MedifocusHealth

Currently there are no universally accepted guidelines for screening people for osteoporosis with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). In the United States, screening for osteoporosis is generally recommended for women who have reached the age of menopause at intervals of 2 to 5 years, although this may vary depending on age. In addition to postmenopausal women, screening is also generally recommended for select individuals who are considered to be at high risk for developing osteoporosis, including:

• Men or women who have previously sustained a spontaneous fracture (not caused by trauma).

• Men or women who have sustained a fracture after an accidental fall from a standing height or less (not a fall from a height that is higher than the individual).

• Men or women who are currently being treated with glucocorticoids or who have previously been treated with glucocorticoids for 3 months or longer.

• Men or women with "silent" vertebral fractures that are documented by radiographic imaging (X-rays; CAT scan; MRI).

• Men or women with chronic medical conditions that are known risk factors for secondary osteoporosis.