How is osteoporosis diagnosed
Osteoporosis can be diagnosed by any of three criteria: fragility fracture, low bone density, high FRAX risk score.
- Fragility fracture criteria
- • The presence or history of a fragility fracture establishes a diagnosis of osteoporosis, regardless of the BMD T-score.
- Bone densitometry criteria
- • BMD T-score below a diagnostic level at any site indicates the presence of osteoporosis in a patient aged >50 years without fractures; the diagnostic T-score ranges are as follows:
| T-score ≥–1 | Normal |
| T-score between –1 and –2.5 | Osteopenia |
| T-score ≤–2.5 | Osteoporosi |
FRAX risk assessment criteria
- • A FRAX risk score (10-year): >3% for hip fracture or >20% for major osteoporosis fractures can also be used to diagnose osteoporosis.
