When Should Densitometry Be Repeated in Healthy Peri‐ and Postmenopausal Women: The Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study

• Published in: Journal of bone and mineral research 2002-11, Vol.17 (11), p.2061-2067
• Main Authors: Abrahamsen, B., Nissen, N., Hermann, A. P., Hansen, B., Bärenholdt, O., Vestergaard, P., Tofteng, C. L., Nielsen, S. Pors
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Climacteric; decision making; Denmark; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Forearm - diagnostic imaging; Hip - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Medical sciences; menopause; osteodensitometry; osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - diagnostic imaging; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - prevention & control; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Postmenopause; prevention; Spine - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0884-0431; 1523-4681
• DOI: 10.1359/jbmr.2002.17.11.2061

Intervention should be considered in postmenopausal women with bone mineral density (BMD) ≥1 SD below the reference (T or Z score < −1). However, it is unclear when densitometry should be repeated. This study aimed at determining the need for repeat DXA within 5 years in untreated peri‐/postmenopausal women to detect declines of T or Z score to below −1 with 85% confidence. A cohort of 925 healthy women (aged 51.2 ± 2.9 years) were followed within the Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study (DOPS) for 5 years without hormone‐replacement therapy (HRT). DXA of spine, hip, and forearm was done at 0,1, 2, 3, and 5 years (Hologic QDR‐1000/2000). The annual loss in SD units was 0.12 ± 0.10 at the spine (1.3%), 0.10 ± 0.09 at the femoral neck (1.2%), and 0.07 ± 0.09 at the ultradistal (UD) forearm (1.0%). Accordingly, T scores below −1 developed earlier at the spine. The need for a future DXA scan to predict declines of T and Z scores below −1 depended strongly on baseline BMD. In subjects with a positive T score, the risk of developing T < −1 remained at