Osteoporosis: The Daily PANCE Blueprint
At what age should routine osteoporosis screening with a DEXA scan begin for an average-risk woman with no history of fractures?
A. 50 years
B. 55 years
C. 60 years
D. 65 years
E. 70 years
Answer and topic summary
The answer is D. 65 years
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends initiating screening for osteoporosis in all women at age 65. This is a Grade “B” recommendation. For postmenopausal women younger than 65, screening should be considered only if their fracture risk is increased, as determined by a formal clinical risk assessment tool like the FRAX score. For an average-risk woman without specific risk factors, routine screening begins at age 65.
- DEXA is also recommended for
- Both men and women of any age who have had fragility fractures
- Older adults with unexplained sudden onset of back pain
- Patients with decreased bone density or asymptomatic vertebral compression fractures incidentally noted on imaging studies
- Patients at risk of secondary osteoporosis
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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:
Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Musculoskeletal ⇒ ⇒
Also covered as part of the Family Medicine EOR topic list
