While all patients aged 50 years and older should be evaluated for risk factors for osteoporosis using tools such as the osteoporosis self-assessment screening tool (OST), bone mineral density screening via DEXA is not warranted on women under 65 or men under 70 at low risk.
Sources:
Lim LS, et al. Screening for osteoporosis in the adult U.S. population: ACPM position statement on preventive practice. Am J Prev Med. 2009 Apr;36(4):366-75. PMID: 19285200.
Papaioannou A, et al. 2010 clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada: summary. CMAJ. 2010 Nov 23;182(17):1864-73. PMID: 20940232.
Powell H, et al. Adherence to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2002 osteoporosis screening guidelines in academic primary care settings. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012 Jan;21(1):50-3. PMID: 22150154.
The International Institute for Clinical Densitometry. 2013 ISCD Official Positions – Adult [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2014 Aug 26]. Available from: http://www.iscd.org/.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Bone Density Tests: When you need them and when you don’t