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Are You at Risk?
What puts me at risk for osteoporosis?
The 2010 Canadian Osteoporosis Guidelines recommend that all postmenopausal women and men over 50 be assessed for osteoporosis and clinical risk factors for fragility fractures. Post-menopausal women are especially at risk of osteoporosis because at menopause estrogen levels drop. Estrogen plays an important role in keeping women’s bones healthy.
There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Take this self-assessment to help understand if you are at risk. Risk factors are additive, meaning that the more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of developing osteoporosis. If you are over 50, Osteoporosis Canada recommends that you talk to your physician about being assessed for osteoporosis. You can print your results and take them to your next doctor’s appointment.
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Your Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Report
Your score indicates that your current risk of osteoporosis is low. However, Osteoporosis Canada suggests that if you are over 50 years of age, you should talk to your doctor about your risk of osteoporosis. Print out this report and show it to your doctor at your next appointment. Smoking, excessive caffeine intake and drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Eating a diet with adequate calcium, ensuring you take sufficient vitamin D and exercising on a regular basis are all important to help maintain your bone health.
Osteoporosis Canada suggests that if you are over 50 years of age, you should talk to your doctor about your risk of osteoporosis. Print out this report and talk to your doctor about your risk of osteoporosis at your next appointment. Smoking, excessive caffeine intake and drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Eating a diet with adequate calcium, ensuring you take sufficient vitamin D and exercising on a regular basis are all important to help maintain your bone health.
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My Risk for Low BMD, Fractures and Falls
- Prior fragility fractures
- High alcohol intake (≥ 3 units per day)
- Parental hip fracture
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Glucocorticoid use
- Falls in the previous 12 months
- Current smoker
- Gait and balance problems
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Lifestyle choices
- I exercise regularly
- I have trouble getting enough exercise
- My diet contains adequate calcium (recommended dietary intake for adults over 50 is 1200 mg calcium/day)
- I consume less than the recommended daily amount of calcium (recommended dietary intake for adults over 50 is 1200 mg calcium/day)
- I take a daily calcium supplement
- I take a daily multi-vitamin
- I take a daily vitamin D supplement
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My Drug Coverage
- I have a private drug coverage plan
- I have coverage under a government plan
- I do not have any drug coverage
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Other risk factors
- I have had a fragility fracture after age 40
- I have used glucocorticoids over a long period (≥ 3 months in the prior year at a prednisone equivalent dose ≥ 7.5 mg daily)
- I take other medications associated with osteoporosis e.g., aromatase inhibitors, androgen deprivation therapy.
- One of my parents had a hip fracture
- I have had a vertebral fracture or osteopenia identified on X-ray
- I currently smoke
- I have a high alcohol intake
- I have low body weight (< 60 kg) or major weight loss (>10% of weight at age 25 years)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Type 1 diabetes
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
- Hypogonadism or premature menopause (< 45 years)
- Cushing’s disease
- Chronic malnutrition or Malabsorption
- Chronic liver disease
- COPD
- Chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease)
- I have had a fragility fracture
- I have used glucocorticoids over a long period (≥ 3 months in the prior year at a prednisone equivalent dose >7.5 mg daily)
- I take other medications associated with osteoporosis e.g., aromatase inhibitors, androgen deprivation therapy
- I have hypogonadism or premature menopause (<45 years)
- I have malabsorption syndrome
- I have primary hyperparathyroidism
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Type 1 diabetes
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
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Treatment Preferences
- I prefer to take my medication(s) as pills
- I would like to take my pills once-a-day
- I would like to take my pills once-a-week
- I would like to take my pills once-a-month
- I would like to be able to take my pills with food
- I prefer to take my medication(s) as a nasal spray
- I prefer to take my medication(s) as an injection
- I prefer to take my medication(s) as an intravenous infusion
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Remember to show this report to your doctor. He/she can help you make lifestyle choices and
if needed, offer treatment choices to help maintain your bone health.
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The following questions do not affect your risk of osteoporosis, but they can help your doctor and you identify any lifestyle changes that may help prevent or treat osteoporosis. If you need treatment with a medication this information can also help your doctor select the medication that will best fit your needs.
Print out this report and show it to your doctor at your next appointment. Smoking, excessive caffeine intake and a high alcohol intake can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Eating a diet with adequate calcium, ensuring you get sufficient vitamin D and exercising on a regular basis are all important to help maintain your bone health.
