Recommendations for Improving Women's Bone Health Throughout the Lifespan

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a common condition in which deteriorating bone tissue results in an increased risk of low trauma fracture. Influenced by the role of estrogen in building and maintaining bone mineral density, women have different patterns of bone accrual and loss compared with men, resulting in a lower peak bone mass and a greater lifetime fracture risk. Moreover, fracture risk increases significantly in postmenopausal women who have depleted estrogen levels. Osteoporotic fractures pose serious consequences—ranging from an inability to perform basic tasks and an increased risk of repeat fracture to the need for assisted living and even death. There is also a large economic toll associated with the health care costs required for post-fracture care. The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) convened an interdisciplinary Bone Health Working Group to review the current state of science and practice concerning women's bone health and osteoporosis care and to explore strategies to address gaps in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of bone disease in women. Women's bone health care must shift its paradigm from one of postmenopausal and post-fracture care to a preventive model that engages touchpoints throughout the lifespan. To achieve this paradigm shift, the Working Group recommends prioritizing efforts to build public awareness and clinical education of preventive bone health care for women, increase access to screening tools, improve patient–provider communication, and treat osteoporosis using a broader risk stratification approach.