Osteoporosis Test Urged for Women Over the Age of 65

All white women 65 and older should be tested for osteoporosis if they would be willing to get treatment, according to new guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Women of other races should follow that recommendation as well, says foundation president Dr. Robert Lindsay. The guidelines focus on post-menopausal white women because most data about osteoporosis is from that group. It’s also the group at highest risk for the disease.

Osteoporosis puts people at risk of disabling fractures. The foundation guidelines recommend a test of bone density in the hip.

They also recommend testing post-menopausal white women younger than 65 who have at least one risk factor for the disease. Risk factors include having had a bone fracture as an adult, poor health or frailty, cigarette smoking, alcoholism, recurring falls, little exercise and lifelong low calcium intake.

Treatments include hormone replacement therapy and drugs.