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NOF Clarifies NEJM Study Findings
NOF Responds to Media Coverage of the New England Journal of Medicine study “Bone-Density Testing Interval and Transition to Osteoporosis in Older Women” and Encourages Current Patients to Continue Working with their Healthcare Providers to Regularly Monitor their Condition
The study published in last week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggesting that frequent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) tests may not be necessary for post-menopausal women with normal or only mildly low bone mineral density (BMD) is good news, but the findings should not be misinterpreted by those already diagnosed with osteoporosis or with low BMD.
NOF advises current osteoporosis patients and those with low BMD (indicated by T-scores between -2.0 and -2.49) to continue having DXA tests every two years or as advised by a healthcare professional to monitor their condition.
It’s also important that all post-menopausal women discuss their risk factors for osteoporosis with their healthcare provider to determine when they should receive their first DXA test. Currently only 13 percent of Medicare beneficiaries report ever having a single DXA test, a sign that the vast majority of women aren’t getting the baseline test to inform their healthcare providers of their risk factors and determine how carefully their bone density should be tracked going forward.
Bone density tests are not the sole basis for treatment decisions, but are an important weapon in preventing the serious consequences of osteoporosis which affects nearly 44 million Americans. Working with your healthcare professional, other important risk factors, including age, should be taken into account to identify your risk for osteoporosis and fracture.
The population of the NEJM study was made up of healthy women with normal or low BMD over a wide range of values, not those with osteoporosis or prior fractures. Therefore, the guidance for osteoporosis patients remains unchanged and NOF advises women with osteoporosis to continue working with their healthcare providers to have DXA tests conducted at two-year intervals, or as recommended, to monitor their condition.
The latest
The National Osteoporosis Foundation has named Barbara Hannah Grufferman as its first Bone Health Ambassador. In this newly-established role, Grufferman, a well-known advocate for healthy and positive living, will dedicate her time, talent and energy to raise awareness for osteoporosis and the importance of building strong bones for life.
Thanks to a generous gift from The Samuel J. & Ethel LeFrak Charitable Trust, the National Osteoporosis Foundation met its Generations of Strength fundraising goal one year early. NOF launched the Generations of Strength initiative in September 2011 with the goal of raising $2 million in two years to improve patient care for the most vulnerable – those who have broken bones due to osteoporosis – and to protect future generations from the disease.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the nation’s leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, has named Claire Gill as its Senior Director of Marketing, Consumer and Corporate Outreach. Gill brings extensive experience in public relations and marketing communications to this newly-established role.
