Risk Assessment for Men

Did you know men can get osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis more commonly affects the elderly, postmenopausal women, and individuals of Caucasian or Asian descent. This does not mean that others are not at risk for osteoporosis. Men, African-Americans and other populations get osteoporosis, too; they are just at a slightly lower risk than Caucasian or Asian
postmenopausal women.

Am I at risk for osteoporosis and related fractures?

You may be at risk for osteoporosis and related fractures if you answer “yes” to many of the following risk factors. The more risk factors that you check, the greater your risk for osteoporosis.

Risk Assessment For Men PDF small print

Risk Assessment For Men PDF large print

Check () if you...

	are age 65 or older (the older you are, the greater the risk)
	are Caucasian or Asian
	are excessively thin
	have any relatives who have/had osteoporosis (broken bone of the wrist, hip, leg or spine occurring without major trauma, a height loss of more than 1-1/2 inches, or stooped posture)
	have a personal history of low-impact fractures (broken bones without trauma, such as a car accident or severe sports injury) during adulthood, x-ray evidence of spine fracture, height loss of more than 1-1/2 inches or stooped posture
	have a low level of the hormone testosterone
	have a history of long-term smoking (more than 1 pack a day for more than 5 years) or currently use any amount of tobacco products
	consume alcohol to excess and/or have a history of alcohol abuse
Check if you have or have a history of any of the following chronic diseases/conditions often associated with osteoporosis and related fractures:
	AIDS
	chronic lung disease
	Type I diabetes
	eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
	hyperparathyroidism (excessive parathyroid hormone)
	hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone)
	inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
	kidney disease
	liver disease
	lupus
	malabsorption (from celiac sprue or other gastrointestinal disorders)
	neurological diseases (such as stroke or multiple sclerosis)
	rheumatoid arthritis
	bed rest or immobility for more than 6 months
	frequent falls (associated with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, alcoholism, impaired vision and/or impaired hearing)
Check if you are taking or have taken any of the following medications:
	blood-thinning agents when necessary for chronic use (such as long-term use of coumadin or heparin)
	chemotherapy
	Dilantin (phenytoin), and some other drugs used to treat seizure disorder or depression
	gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (lupron or zoladex) used for prostate cancer
	immunosuppressants (such as methotrexate or cyclosporin)
	steroid medications (such as prednisone or cortisone) used for more than 3 months to treat asthma, arthritis or other diseases
	thyroid medications, taken in high dosages, or lack of routine blood tests for TSH-level monitoring
Check if you have a longterm history of any of the following lifestyle risk factors:
	low calcium intake (eating a diet with few, if any dairy products or calcium-fortified foods and no calcium supplements)
	little exercise (less than 60 minutes per week)

Although risk factors may increase your likelihood of getting osteoporosis and related fractures, having risk factors does not mean that you have or will get the disease. It is important to know that there may be additional risk factors that have not yet been identified. Men who do not have any of the above risk factors for osteoporosis may not be protected from developing the disease. Risk assessment should increase your awareness of the potential to get osteoporosis and help motivate you to follow steps to protect your bones and to discuss your risks with your medical professional. When indicated, your medical professional may prescribe a bone mineral density (BMD) test.

What if I am diagnosed with low bone mass or osteoporosis?

All medical conditions that cause osteoporosis should be treated. For example, if your osteoporosis is the result of testosterone deficiency, your doctor may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy. The FDA has approved alendronate sodium (Fosamax) for the treatment of osteoporosis in men.  Recently, teriparatide (Forteo) was FDA-approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in men at high risk for fracture. If a man has osteoporosis that is caused by the long-term use of steroids, FDA-approved medications include alendronate sodium(Fosamax) for osteoporosis treatment or risedronate sodium (Actonel) for both osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The causes, consequences, and treatment of male osteoporosis are being actively researched in order to better understand osteoporosis as a health concern in men.