[Anamnesis and diagnostic course in osteoporosis patients and in patients at risk]

The problem of osteoporosis has considerably gained in importance in recent years, owing to the rise in ratio of old people to total population (life expectancy in Zürich of a female newborn in the year 1850: 38 years, today: 82 years). Early recognition of bone loss is of essential importance for the quality of life of the patient concerned. The present publication considers, above all, the recognition of groups of risk and the anamnestic hints for the presence of osteoporosis, furthermore the examination of the patient. Only afterwards laboratory methods, X-ray analyses, densitometry, scintigraphy and bone biopsy should be applied. In any case these technical 'aids' are not at the beginning, but at the end of the diagnostic path.