Only half of women with osteoporosis get treated. This paper argues that listening to what patients value is not a soft skill, it is how we close that gap.
New in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism: a practical guide to personalizing osteoporosis care. It stopped me because of one number. In 2022, only 50% of women with osteoporosis and 43% of those with fractures received therapy.
We have highly effective medications. We are still not getting them to people. The authors make the case that part of the fix is talking with patients, not at them: eliciting their beliefs, their fears, and their goals, then building the plan around them.
I appreciated that they did not treat nutrition and exercise as filler. Food first for calcium and protein. Resistance and impact training that is actually challenging, ideally coached. Balance work to prevent the falls that cause fractures.
The two cases show the range. Both women had very low bone density and no prior fracture. One chose aggressive anabolic-first therapy and gained substantial bone. One resisted medication, changed her diet, found a group class, and eventually started hormone therapy.
Here is what I hold onto: both stayed engaged and both stayed fracture-free. Prevention works best when the plan is one the patient will actually follow.
If bone health is on your mind, bring your real questions and preferences to the visit. That conversation is where a workable plan begins.
Wondering about your own bone health?
Book a ConsultationThis clinical review and two illustrative cases argue for personalizing postmenopausal osteoporosis care by integrating fracture risk with patient values, evidence-based nutrition and exercise, shared decision-making, and pharmacologic therapy. It notes that in 2022 only about 50% of women with osteoporosis and 43% of those with fractures received treatment.
