Bone Density Tests Do Predict Women's Fracture Risk

After 15 years of follow-up, it was evident that 25 percent of women who had low BMD at the beginning of the study developed fractures of the spine, compared with only 9 percent of women with normal BMD.

"It was pretty much a strong gradient of risk," Cauley explained. "If you had normal bone density when you entered and did not have an [existing] fracture, the risk of having a new spine fracture was about 9 percent, compared to a risk of 56 percent in women who had osteoporosis and who had an existing fracture. So, the range of risk varied dramatically depending on bone density and previous spine fractures."

According to Brandt, one interesting finding from the study is that a previous vertebral fracture topped even bone mineral density as a predictor for future fracture.

This indicates that women with an existing vertebral fracture should be treated for osteoporosis regardless of their BMD, the authors reported.

"People think osteoporosis is an inevitable consequence of aging, but it is preventable and treatable," she said.

More information

There's more on age-linked bone loss at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

SOURCES: Jane A. Cauley, Dr.P.H., professor, epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health; Paul Brandt, Ph.D., associate professor, neuroscience and experimental therapeutics, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, College Station; Dec. 19, 2007,Journal of the American Medical Association