Osteoporosis (Bone Density)

Osteoporosis (Bone Density)

The bone density test assesses one’s risk for osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become more fragile and likely to break.  This is particularly important for women who are postmenopausal, when bone mass and density can decrease significantly. 

The test is quick, non-invasive, and painless.  An individual places his or her foot in a machine that then encases the foot and measures its density.  The results are produced in about 15 minutes.  The nurse will go over the results with the employee being screened.

They will have two numbers, the T-score and the Z-score.  The T-score is the individual’s bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of their gender.  The Z-score is the number of standard deviations above or below what’s normally expected for someone of a particular age, sex, weigh, and ethnic or racial origin.  According to World Health Organization (WHO) classifications, a T-score below –2.5 SDs indicates osteoporosis and a score between –1 and –2.5 SDs indicates “osteopenia” or low bone density. Normal bone density is no more than 1 SD below the young adult normal value. Your BMD test results and the WHO classifications are only part of the picture in determining your risk for fracture. Thus, it is vital to have this test done in order to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures.

       10 year fracture risk for women (www.osteoporosis.ca)

          10 year fracture risk for men (www.osteoporosis.ca)