Identification, assessment and management of osteoporosis in primary care
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Identification, assessment and management of osteoporosis in primary care

Jennie Walker Principal lecturer, Institute of Health and Allied Professions, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To increase your knowledge of osteoporosis, its causes and consequences

  • To recognise approaches to the identification of osteoporosis and fracture risk reduction strategies

  • To enhance your understanding of the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterised by diminished bone density and structural deterioration and is a significant global health concern. The condition predisposes individuals to an increased risk of sustaining fragility fractures, which are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and present a significant healthcare burden. Osteoporosis is often asymptomatic until fractures occur, therefore preventive measures and early intervention are crucial to mitigate its debilitating consequences. This article describes fragility fractures and some of the causes of osteoporosis and details approaches to the identification and management of the condition, including lifestyle modifications, calcium and vitamin D supplementation and pharmacological therapies.

Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2024.e1843

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@JennieW14

Correspondence

jennie.walker@ntu.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Walker J (2024) Identification, assessment and management of osteoporosis in primary care. Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2024.e1843

Published online: 21 August 2024

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