| [ Summary ] |
The concepts for osteoporosis treatment outlined in the Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis 2006 are follows : 1) The goal of osteoporosis treatment is to improve quality of life by reducing risk of fractures, 2) The criteria for initiation of drug therapy for fragility fracture prevention are defined separately from the criteria for diagnosis of osteoporosis, 3) In Japan, there is evidence that lowered BMD, prevalence of fractures, and age are risk factors for fractures. In addition, a meta‒analysis by the WHO shows that excessive alcohol consumption, current smoking, and family history of hip fractures are also fracture risk factors, 4) Initiation of drug therapy for osteoporosis should be determined based on the above‒mentioned fracture risk factors. FRAX® will be included in the initiation criteria for drug therapy. The increasing effects of bone mineral density and the prevention of the effects of vertebral, non‒vertebral, and hip fractures will be evaluated in relation to drugs used for treatment of osteoporosis in the revision of guidelines. |