Osteoporosis in men: a review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Endocrinology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Osteoporosis is increasingly recognized in older men, not just postmenopausal women.
• Men experience fractures later but face greater consequences, including higher mortality rates after hip fractures.
• Increasing male life expectancy necessitates greater attention to osteoporosis in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing concern of osteoporosis in aging men.
• To outline risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic considerations for male osteoporosis.
• To address the implications of new diagnostic standards for bone mineral density testing in men.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on male osteoporosis, risk factors, and treatment.
• Discussion of diagnostic criteria, including bone mineral density testing (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry).
• Analysis of high-risk populations and secondary causes of osteoporosis in men.

Main Results:

• Men at high risk include those with prior fragility fractures, on oral glucocorticoids, or undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.
• Evaluation involves medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
• New international guidelines propose a single normative database for interpreting bone density tests in both men and women.

Conclusions:

• Osteoporosis in men presents unique challenges and greater post-fracture risks compared to women.
• Comprehensive evaluation is essential to identify secondary causes and initiate appropriate management.
• Further research is needed to validate treatment efficacy and the impact of updated diagnostic guidelines for men.