From the Guidelines
Bone mineral density (BMD) images should be repeated every 1-2 years for patients on osteoporosis treatment to monitor therapy effectiveness, and every 2-3 years for those being screened or at risk but not on treatment, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1.
Key Considerations
The timing of BMD image repetition depends on individual risk factors, including:
- Age: women 65 years and older, and men 70 years and older, should be screened for osteoporosis 1
- Gender: women are at higher risk of osteoporosis than men 1
- Previous fractures: individuals with a history of fractures should be screened for osteoporosis 1
- Medication use: especially corticosteroids, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis 1
- Rate of bone loss: individuals with rapidly declining BMD should be monitored more frequently 1
Risk Factors
Certain medical conditions and medications can increase the risk of osteoporosis, including:
- Chronic renal failure
- Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritides
- Eating disorders
- Organ transplantation
- Prolonged immobilization
- Conditions associated with secondary osteoporosis
- Glucocorticoid therapy for >3 months
- Hypogonadal men >18 years of age
- Medications known to adversely affect BMD, such as anticonvulsant drugs and androgen deprivation therapy 1
Monitoring Intervals
The monitoring interval for BMD images should be individualized based on the patient's clinical circumstances, with more frequent imaging recommended for patients with significant risk factors or rapidly declining BMD 1.
- For patients on osteoporosis treatment, monitoring every 1-2 years is recommended 1
- For patients being screened or at risk but not on treatment, monitoring every 2-3 years is recommended 1
- For stable patients with normal BMD or mild osteopenia, testing can be extended to 5-10 years 1
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
BMD Image Age
- The age at which bone mineral density (BMD) images are typically taken is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- However, the studies suggest that BMD measurements are usually taken in individuals who are at risk of osteoporosis, such as postmenopausal women and older adults 2, 3.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria define osteoporosis as low bone mineral density, with a T-score ≤ -2.5 found in the spine, the neck of the femur, or during a full hip examination, which can be applied to individuals of any age 4.
- One study found that female gender, aging, and increased serum calcium level were significantly related to decreasing femoral BMD, suggesting that BMD measurements may be more relevant for older adults and women 5.
- Another study recommended that all women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis, and that younger postmenopausal women with elevated risk should also be considered for screening 2.