Recent research showed that aggressive osteoporosis screening and treatment can reduce the rate of hip fractures. Richard Dell, M. D., of Kaiser Permanente Bellflower and colleagues claim that their strategy could cut U. S. hip fractures by 25% or more.

Researchers followed three-pronged approach to osteoporosis. The researchers gave bone scans using dual X-ray absorptiometry (the gold standard for bone density tests) to the all patients over age 50 with a history of fragility fractures (fractures not due to trauma), women over age 65, men over age 70 and patients on high doses of corticosteroids and certain other drugs in the first step.

The second step focused at giving osteoporosis education and treatment to patients with poor bone density or previous fragility fractures. Patients who needed osteoporosis treatment were also given home safety checks to help prevent falls along with bone drugs. The third step comprised of fall-reduction program, including physical therapy, for at-risk patients.

Kaiser Permanente researchers conducted a prospective observational study of more than 620,000 patients evaluate the effect of three-pronged approach to osteoporosis. Researchers found that that was 37% reduction in hip fractures ranging from 23% to nearly 61% across the 11 centers.