Pharmacy-based bone mass measurement to assess osteoporosis risk.

Objective: To evaluate elderly women's knowledge of their skeletal status, assess adequacy of calcium intake, determine the prevalence of low bone density, and determine whether peripheral bone density testing led to medical interventions in a group of rural, elderly Wisconsin women recruited in community pharmacies.

Design: Recruiting notices were posted in each pharmacy, and eligible women were enrolled in the order in which they volunteered. Each completed a fracture-risk questionnaire. Calcaneal bone density was measured within the following 6 weeks, using peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Mail surveys were used to assess interventions subsequent to the womens' study participation.

Setting: The study was conducted at 5 community pharmacies in rural Wisconsin.

Results: Of 133 women, 20% had calcaneal osteoporosis, defined as a T score < or =2.5 (calcaneal bone density <2.5 SDs below the young reference database). Thirty percent of women met National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) treatment criteria based on heel bone density and NOF-designated risk factors. Of those meeting treatment criteria, 75% were unaware of their low bone mass. Half of the women received <1200 mg/d of calcium, the recommended dose for osteoporosis prevention. Those who were taking a calcium supplement were much more likely to receive the recommended amount. Women who had discussed bone density test results with their physicians were more likely to receive central dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements and/or start antiresorptive therapy than women who did not.

Conclusions: Rural, elderly Wisconsin women are at substantial risk for osteoporosis, based on calcaneal bone density, but most are unaware of their risk. Compounding this risk is low calcium intake. Community screening of rural, elderly women by peripheral bone density measurement can lead to medical interventions in such individuals.