scholarly journals Bone Mineral Density Measurements: Are they Worth While?

1996 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 457-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Torgerson ◽  
C Donaldson ◽  
D M Reid

Bone mineral density measurements have been criticized on the grounds that they are not a worth-while screening tool. In this paper we argue that bone mineral measurements can be an efficient diagnostic tool even if they are not of proven value for screening. There is complex relationship between the costs of a measurement, the intervention and the predictive value of the test all of which must be accounted for when assessing the value of a bone density measurement. For bone density measurements to be used for screening, a wider evaluation needs to be undertaken compared with that for their use as a diagnostic tool. We address some common objections, for example, that low compliance with screening would undermine efficiency, and show that these are not relevant. Evaluations of screening need to address issues that are likely to affect efficiency.

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Malekee ◽  
Mohsen Tabatabaei ◽  
Baharak Tasorian

Background: Osteoporosis and subsequent fractures increased mortality and disability. Along with this fact, the demand for diagnostic tests has also increased in recent years, which has created a heavy financial burden on the health system. Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the compatibility of the indications of performing the bone density measurement in Arak city with the criteria of the international sociality of clinical densitometry (ISCD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from 2016 to 2017. Patients’ information was extracted from checklists recorded by a bone density measurement expert. Patients who lived in Arak and did not have an underlying condition that reduced the value of the bone mineral densitometry (BMD) test were studied. We collected the information of the patients who had undergone a bone density test at the discretion of their physician. Results: Here, 816 out of 1,354 bone density tests, requested by non-rheumatologists, were abnormal, and 538 were normal. In the abnormal group, 800 (98%) cases had ISCD indications for BMD application, and only 16 (2%) cases had no indication. However, 636 bone density tests were requested by rheumatologists that 474 were abnormal and 162 were normal, and in the abnormal group, 471 (99.4%) had ISCD indications for BMD, and only 3 (0.6%) cases had no indications. Conclusions: In many cases, bone mineral density has been requested based on ISCD indications (85.13%), and bone disorders have been well identified (64.83%). The study also demonstrates that BMD requests are common among different specialized groups, and when rheumatologists request a bone density, the test is highly sensitive (99.37%).


Bone ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kröger ◽  
P. Vainio ◽  
J. Nieminen ◽  
A. Kotaniemi

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura K. Bachrach ◽  
David Guido ◽  
Debra Katzman ◽  
Iris F. Litt ◽  
Robert Marcus

Osteoporosis develops in women with chronic anorexia nervosa. To determine whether bone mass is reduced in younger patients as well, bone density was studied in a group of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa. With single- and dual-photon absorptiometry, a comparison was made of bone mineral density of midradius, lumbar spine, and whole body in 18 girls (12 to 20 years of age) with anorexia nervosa and 25 healthy control subjects of comparable age. Patients had significantly lower lumbar vertebral bone density than did control subjects (0.830 ± 0.140 vs 1.054 ± 0.139 g/cm2) and significantly lower whole body bone mass (0.700 ± 0.130 vs 0.955 ± 0.130 g/cm2). Midradius bone density was not significantly reduced. Of 18 patients, 12 had bone density greater than 2 standard deviations less than normal values for age. The diagnosis of anorexia nervosa had been made less than 1 year earlier for half of these girls. Body mass index correlated significantly with bone mass in girls who were not anorexic (P < .05, .005, and .0001 for lumbar, radius, and whole body, respectively). Bone mineral correlated significantly with body mass index in patients with anorexia nervosa as well. In addition, age at onset and duration of anorexia nervosa, but not calcium intake, activity level, or duration of amenorrhea correlated significantly with bone mineral density. It was concluded that important deficits of bone mass occur as a frequent and often early complication of anorexia nervosa in adolescence. Whole body is considerably more sensitive than midradius bone density as a measure of cortical bone loss in this illness. Low body mass index is an important predictor of this reduction in bone mass.


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