Intervention Thresholds and the Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

Abstract

A position paper of the National Bone Health Alliance recently recommended that diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis be redefined. We review the merits and demerits of this proposal and argue that the operational bone mineral density (BMD)-based definition be retained while clarity is brought to bear on the distinction between diagnostic and intervention thresholds.

Keywords: DEFINITION; DIAGNOSIS; FRACTURE RISK; FRAX; INTERVENTION THRESHOLDS; OSTEOPOROSIS.