Management of bone health in postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem. We now have an approach to case finding that involves the measurement of bone mineral density in people at high risk of fractures. The management of the individual includes the identification of risk factors, the choice of optimal therapy and the encouragement of long-term adherence with the planned treatment. The drugs that are available for the prevention of fractures are classed as anticatabolic or anabolic. The efficacy of these agents can be evaluated in the individual by monitoring changes in bone mineral density or bone turnover markers.