MDS Alert

Risk Assessment:

Check Out This List Of Risk Factors For Osteoporosis

Certain conditions, meds up the odds of a resident having the condition.

One risk for osteoporosis: being female and over age 65 or being postmenopausal under 65 with a family history of osteoporosis or personal history of low-trauma fracture after the age of 50. Other risk factors include:

• Advanced age

• Previous fragility fracture

• Family history of bone disease

• Current cigarette smoking

• Excessive use of alcohol

• Low body weight and/or small body frame

• Lifetime of low calcium intake

• Vitamin D deficiency

• Inactive lifestyle

• Some prescription medications (e.g., steroids, radiation, chemotherapy, excess thyroxine replacement, antiepileptic medications, gonadal hormone suppression, immunosuppressive agents)

• Certain medical conditions (e.g., hyperthyroidism, chronic lung disease, hyperparathyroidism, cancer, chronic liver or kidney disease, Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, vitamin D deficiency, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis, estrogen deficiency, amenorrhea, low testosterone levels in men)

Source: Becky Dorner, RD, LD, of Becky Dorner and Associates. Used by permission.

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