Table 2.

Indications for measuring bone mineral density^c

Adults (age ≥ 65 years)	Adults (age ≥ 50–64 years)	Adults (age < 50 years)
Age ≥ 65 years	Clinical risk factors for fracture (postmenopausal women, men age 50–64 years)	Fragility fracture Prolonged use of glucocorticoidsa
	•Fragility fracture after age 40 years	Use of other high-risk medicationsb
	•Prolonged use of glucocorticoidsa	Hypogonadism
	•Use of other high-risk medicationsb	Malabsorption syndrome
	•Parental hip fractures	Primary hyperparathyroidism
	•Vertebral fracture or osteopenia identified on radiography •Current smoking	Other disorders strongly associated with rapid bone loss and/or fracture
	•High alcohol intake
	•Low body weight (<60 kg) or major weight loss (>10% of body weight at age 25 years)
	•Rheumatoid arthritis
	•Other disorders strongly associated with osteoporosis

¹At least 3 months cumulative therapy in the previous year at a prednisone-equivalent dose ≥7.5 mg daily.

²For example, aromatase inhibitors or androgen deprivation therapy.

³Adapted from Papaioannou et al. (2010).