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Agency for Care Effectiveness

Osteoporosis: diagnosis and management ACG

Last updated 7 July 2026
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Introduction

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Figure 1. Overview of diagnosis and management of osteoporosis

Risk identification for osteoporosis and fragility fracture

Recommendation 1: Determine the need for bone mineral density testing in people with risk factors for osteoporosis or fragility fractures, particularly all postmenopausal women, and men ≥65 years of age.

Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA)
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Figure 2.OSTA for risk assessment in postmenopausal women

Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®)

Lifestyle advice

Recommendation 2: optimise lifestyle management for all patients at risk of osteoporosis or fragility fractures, including calcium and vitamin D intake through diet and supplementation as appropriate.

Diagnosis and treatment initiation

Recommendation 3a: Diagnose osteoporosis and initiate treatment for patients with current or past fragility fracture, or a BMD (measured by central DXA) T-score ≤-2.5.

Recommendation 3b: Consider initiating treatment for people with a BMD (measured by central DXA) T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 and who are at high risk of fractures.

How to assess fracture risk?
Monitoring and reassessment
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Figure 3. Intervention thresholds for patients with BMD T-score between -1.0 and -2.5, based on 10-year probability of fracture

Pharmacological treatment and specialist referral

Recommendation 4: For patients in whom pharmacological treatment is indicated: Use oral alendronate or risedronate (or IV zoledronate if available and preferred); Consider using denosumab, if preferred and suitable for the patient.
Treatment monitoring
Antiresorptive-associated risks and drug holidays
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Figure 4. Algorithm for bisphosphonate drug holiday

Recommendation 5: Consider anabolic agents as first-line treatment for patients at very high risk of fractures, with specialist input as needed.

Recommendation 6: Consider referring patients with clinically complex or unusual presentations to specialists for further assessment and management.

Supplementary guides


Expert Group