JAMA Netw Open
Osteoporosis risk tools fall short for younger postmenopausal women
Study details: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 6,067 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 64 years participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Bone Density Substudy. Researchers assessed the performance of three osteoporosis risk assessment tools recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF): Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST), Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (OSIRIS), and Osteoporosis Index of Risk (ORAI).
Results: The tools demonstrated fair-to-moderate discrimination in identifying osteoporosis defined by the lowest bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip or lumbar spine in younger postmenopausal women. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) values for identifying osteoporosis at any site by tool:
- OSIRIS: 0.633 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.633-0.634)
- ORAI: 0.663 (95% CI, 0.663-0.664)
- OST: 0.654 (95% CI, 0.654-0.655)
Clinical impact: These findings suggest that current USPSTF guidelines recommending these tools for younger postmenopausal women may need reassessment. Physicians should consider alternative methods for osteoporosis screening in this population to improve early detection and management.
Source:
Zheng HW, et al. (2025, March 3). JAMA Netw Open. Identifying Younger Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis Using USPSTF-Recommended Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Tools. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40100219/