Screening Could Help Prevent Fractures in Long-Term Care Residents

UPMC

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrates that screening strategies vary widely — from 17 to 98 percent — in identifying women residing in nursing homes who are eligible for treatment of osteoporosis. Led by Susan Greenspan, M.D., professor of medicine at Pitt, the study sought to identify nursing home patients who would benefit from pharmacologic treatment of osteoporosis, which could decrease their risk for bone fractures. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and break easily. “Osteoporosis in the frail elderly can have devastating consequences, but we have yet to perfect a system for identifying those patients who would benefit most from the treatment,” Dr. Greenspan said.  Learn more at http://bit.ly/xfbezs.