Bone Density Screening: A New Level of Evidence?
Authors: Steven R. Cummings
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Editorials1 February 2005Bone Density Screening: A New Level of Evidence?Steven R. Cummings, MDSteven R. Cummings, MDFrom San Francisco Coordinating Center; California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute; University of California, San Francisco (Emeritus); San Francisco, CA 94105.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-3-200502010-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In this issue, Kern and colleagues (1) report that a cohort of older women and men who underwent bone mineral density (BMD) testing of the hip had a lower rate of hip fractures than did those in a cohort who did not get hip BMD testing. If Kern and colleagues' methods are sound, then they provide the first evidence from a trial (albeit not randomized) that screening lowers the risk for fracture.Bone densitometry, invented by dentists in 1897 (2), became compact enough for clinical use during the 1980s (3). As soon as bone densitometry entered clinical practice, debates began ...References1. Kern LM, Powe NR, Levine MA, Fitzpatrick AL, Harris TB, Robbins J, et al. Association between screening for osteoporosis and the incidence of hip fracture. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:173-81. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Dennis J. A new system of measurement in x-ray work. Dental Cosmos. 1897;39:445-54. Google Scholar3. Cameron JR, Sorenson J. Measurement of bone mineral in vivo: an improved method. Science. 1963;142:230-2. [PMID: 14057368] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Cummings SR, Black D. Should perimenopausal women be screened for osteoporosis? Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:817-23. [PMID: 3085566] LinkGoogle Scholar5. 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Prediction of fracture risk in postmenopausal white women with peripheral bone densitometry: evidence from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment. J Bone Miner Res. 2002;17:2222-30. [PMID: 12469916] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar23. Melton LJ, Johnell O, Lau E, Mautalen CA, Seeman E. Osteoporosis and the global competition for health care resources. J Bone Miner Res. 2004;19:1055-8. [PMID: 15176986] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar24. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bone Health and Osteo-porosis: A Report of the Surgeon General. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 14 October 2004. Accessed at www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/ on 13 December 2004. Google Scholar25. Bates DW, Black DM, Cummings SR. Clinical use of bone densitometry: clinical applications. JAMA. 2002;288:1898-900. [PMID: 12377089] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Steven R. Cummings, MDAffiliations: From San Francisco Coordinating Center; California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute; University of California, San Francisco (Emeritus); San Francisco, CA 94105.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: Steven R. Cummings, MD, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, 74 New Montgomery Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105; e-mail, SCummings@psg.ucsf.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAssociation between Screening for Osteoporosis and the Incidence of Hip Fracture Lisa M. Kern , Neil R. Powe , Michael A. Levine , Annette L. Fitzpatrick , Tamara B. Harris , John Robbins , and Linda P. 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Ha sido til el estudio cosmis?Clinical and basic research papers – June 2005 selectionsNew help for old bonesThe evolving role of endocrine therapy for early stage breast cancer 1 February 2005Volume 142, Issue 3Page: 217-219KeywordsBone densityBone mineral densityDensitometryHipHip fracturesMedical risk factorsOsteoporosisRandomized trialsSpineTreatment guidelines ePublished: 1 February 2005 Issue Published: 1 February 2005 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...