While all patients aged 50 years and older should be evaluated for risk factors for osteoporosis using tools such as the osteoporosis self-assessment screening tool (OST), bone mineral density screening via DEXA is not warranted on women under 65 or men under 70 at low risk.

Conditions: Osteoporosis, Osteopenia, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Fracture

Diagnostic Tests: Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Scans (DEXA), Bone Density Test

Sources

• Lim LS, Hoeksema LJ, Sherin K. Screening for osteoporosis in the adult U.S. population: ACPM position statement on preventive practice. Am. J. Prev. Med. Apr 2009;36(4):366-375. (PubMed)
• Papaioannou A, Morin S, Cheung AM, et al. 2010 clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada: summary. CMAJ. Nov 23 2010;182(17):1864-1873. (PubMed)
• Powell H, O'Connor K, Greenberg D. Adherence to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2002 osteoporosis screening guidelines in academic primary care settings. J Womens Health (Larchmt). Jan 2012;21(1):50-53. (PubMed)
• The International Institute for Clinical Densitometry. 2013 ISCD Official Positions – Adult. 2013 [cited 2014 Aug 26]. (ISCD)