Introduction
The incidence of osteoporotic fractures in New Zealand is increasing steadily. Fractures now affect more than half of postmenopausal women and nearly one third of men over the age of 60 years causing considerable debility and reduced quality and length of life. Health professionals should therefore encourage patients of both sexes to consider prevention and activate intervention strategies for osteoporosis.
These recommendations have been formulated by Osteoporosis New Zealand and follow a revision of earlier guidelines which were reviewed at the National Osteoporosis Meeting in 2005.
The recommendations focus on the commonest causes of osteoporosis, namely postmenopausal osteoporosis, age-related osteoporosis in men, and corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.
Suggestions for investigation of other secondary causes of osteoporosis are provided and may be selected on the basis of the clinical context.
The recommendations do not attempt to provide a comprehensive treatise on the subject, nor do they replace clinical assessment and individual judgement by the doctor and his/her patient in considering management.
The recommendations concentrate on therapies registered in New Zealand.
The funding and availability of diagnostic testing (DXA scans), and the availability and cost-to-patients of treatments, differ from other countries and may influence treatment decisions.
