Management of osteoporosis in the elderly

Osteoporosis is the most common skeletal disorder of the elderly. This crippling disease causes 1.5 million fractures each year, with annual costs to the United States health care system of $10 billion. Osteoporotic fractures cause pain, disability, and, in some cases, death. Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is possible with accurate and non-invasive measurements of bone density, targeting those at greatest risk of developing osteoporotic fractures. Treatment with calcium, estrogen, calcitonin, or a bisphosphonate stabilizes bone density in the elderly and may reduce the risk of fractures. This article reviews the current strategies for evaluation, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis.