Health
ACP osteoporosis guideline now includes screening older men
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 19, 2008
The American College of Physicians released on May 5 a new clinical practice guideline that recommends screening older men, particularly those older than 65, for osteoporosis. The guideline, which was to be published in the May 6 Annals of Internal Medicine, was based on a systematic evidence review of published studies.
"Osteoporosis is not just a women's disease," said Amir Qaseem, MD, PhD, senior medical associate in ACP's Clinical Programs and Quality of Care Dept. "The one-year mortality rate in men after hip fracture is twice that of women."
Clinicians should obtain a DEXA scan for men who are at increased risk for osteoporosis and are candidates for drug therapy, according to the guideline. Guidelines developed by other specialty groups also have drawn attention in recent years to the importance of screening men.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/19/hlbf0519.htm.
