Impact of pharmacist-led community bone mineral density screenings. Ann Pharmacother 2005; 39

Osteoporosis has been defined as a progressive sys-temic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture.1 As a disease, osteoporosis has serious implica-tions for both individual patients and the overall healthcare system. Osteoporosis causes 1.5 million fractures each year in the US and also leads to spinal deformities, de-creased lung capacity, long-term disability, decreased qual-ity of life, and other morbidities.2,3 Currently, 8 million women and 2 million men have been diagnosed with os-teoporosis, while an additional 34 million persons have os-teopenia, a condition of weakened bone mass that precedes osteoporosis.2,3 By 2010, it is estimated that 52 million in-dividuals will have low bone mass.4 As a silent disease with no physical symptoms and no cure, osteoporosis is best controlled through aggressive prevention strategies targeting high-risk individuals. Since low bone mass has been shown to be highly predictive o