New Osteoporosis Guidelines

WABC-TV—January 17, 2011

Rheumatologist Dr. Linda Russell was interviewed along with one of her patients to comment on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation for Routine Osteoporosis Screening for All Women Over Age 65.

In an update to its 2002 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends that all women ages 65 and older be routinely screened for osteoporosis. Younger women with increased risk factors for osteoporosis should be screened if they have fracture risk factors.

Osteoporosis can prevent broken bones.

Says Dr. Russell, "The reason they [the USPSTF] can say that is because we have treatment that can benefit women who do have osteoporosis."

Some women may fear taking medication because some rare conditions have been reported.

"The chance of a woman with osteoporosis actually breaking a bone is much greater than the small risk of either of these two rare conditions," Dr. Russell notes.

Other risk factors for osteoporosis include tobacco use, alcohol use, low body mass and parental history of fractures.

This article originally appeared on WABC-TV. To learn more about osteoporosis and  testing for it, read an Overview of Osteoporosis.