Osteoporosis Supplement

TO OUR READERS...

Millions of US women are affected by the systemic skeletal disorder osteoporosis. As the population of aging female patients continues to rise, so do the medical and economic burdens of osteoporotic fracture. Thus, the time has arrived for both aggressive management and enhanced prevention of this disease in women of all ages.

Early detection of bone breakdown is an important element of effective osteoporosis intervention. Although bone mineral density (BMD) has long been used as a marker for disease progression, alterations in the microarchitecture of bone equal or exceed BMD in importance. This distinction is necessary in measuring the effectiveness of antiosteoporotic interventions, as even seemingly minor increases in BMD have a significant impact on fracture risk. A thorough understanding of the available treatment options, including their mechanisms of action, usefulness in various patient populations, and compliance rates, is also critical to the success of osteoporosis management.

The body of research supporting osteoporosis risk factors and prevention is growing every year, indicating that patients should be educated on bone maintenance from an early age. Good nutrition and various other lifestyle habits are indeed advantageous for bone, and women can use them to help maintain skeletal integrity and help counteract nonmodifiable risk factors (eg, ethnicity, family history).

We at THE FEMALE PATIENT® welcome you to this special edition, the third in a series focusing on innovations in osteoporosis. We hope that you find its contents enlightening and useful in the everyday practice of female health care.

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