Osteoporosis in Older Patients Easy Assessment Easy Assessment of Osteoporosis in Older Patients

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), about 54 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, presenting low bone mass, and suffering from brittle-bone related injuries, such as fractures, and broken bones. In fact, the disease is responsible for “two million broken bones and $19 billion in related costs every year”, while by the year 2025, “experts predict that osteoporosis will be responsible for approximately three million fractures and $25.3 billion in costs annually.”

Sadly, most patients are not aware of having the condition before suffering from a broken bone or coming to realize they are losing inches off their height or backs starting to hunch. As the disease is most prevalent in older patients, early detection is crucial for the development of a thorough treatment plan and the adoption of lifestyle changes by patients.

Assessing and diagnosing osteoporosis in older patients present several challenges, particularly regarding patient mobility, and the risk of causing further damage to what might already be a weakened bone structure, through the current means of testing for osteoporosis.