Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis

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By definition, "osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist" (National Institute of Health- Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases, 2012). Both Berarducci (2008) and Hansberger’s (2005) article note that osteoporosis is the most common disease of all bone disorders, affecting both men and women. The incidence of the disease is growing in the United States with almost 44 million affected Americans and an estimate incidence rate of 10 to 14 million by 2020. Deemed a "silent" epidemic, there is a low level of diagnosis, and even lower level of treatment. Walker (2010) supports Hansberger (2005) that the disease causes pain, depression, anxiety, loss of mobility, and ultimately fractures. It is crucial that Advanced Practice Nurses/Nurse Practitioners have a solid understanding of the disease and are able to identify risk factors, order the proper diagnostic testing, and treat their patients.

There are many identifiable risk factors that are both modifiable, and non-modifiable. The gender of the patient is a major risk factor, as women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Of the almost 50 million Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis, 80% are women. Females at any age have less bone density than males, but in the mid-30's women experience bone loss at a rate of 1% each year (Berarducci, 2008). Walker (2010) adds to the previous statistics, citing around one out of three women over the age of fifty will have a fracture related to osteoporosis, compared to one in 12 men.

Post-menopausal women are at greater risk due to the estrogen levels declining leading to...

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...of Advanced Nursing Practice, 8(1), Retrieved from

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National Institute of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases- National Resource Center.

(2012). Osteoporosis overview. Retrieved from

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/overview.asp

Ragucci, K. (2011). Osteoporosis treatment. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 37 (7), 17-22.

doi 10.3928/00989134-20110602-02

United States Preventative Services Task Force. (2011). Screening for osteoporosis. Retrieved

from http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsoste.htm

Walker, J. (2010). The role of the nurse in the management of osteoporosis. British Journal Of

Nursing, 19(19), 1243-1247. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=bb2ae9d1-4184-44a6-98d3-89abab1e34cd%40sessionmgr111&vid=6&hid=107

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