Osteoporosis: A Therapeutic Update

• Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes bones to become weak and ultimately fracture.
• Bone loss is insidious and often not diagnosed until after fracture occurs.
• Osteoporosis is a serious health problem, with financial, social, and psychological effects.
• Bone mineral density screening for osteoporosis is recommended for those at risk.
• Lifestyle modifications and medications can treat osteoporosis to prevent fractures.

Osteoporosis is now more apparent with the aging of the population and has become a serious health problem. The end-point of osteoporosis is fracture, which has economic, social, and psychological consequences for society. Some guidelines provide recommendations for whom to screen and treat. Various risk factors are associated with osteoporosis, with many being modifiable to prevent fractures. Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies are available to reduce fracture risk. Pharmacologic intervention is predicated on an understanding of bone turnover with predictable outcomes noted. This review provides an update on prevention, screening, and treatment modalities for osteoporosis.