Underuse of procedures for diagnosing osteoporosis and of therapies for osteoporosis in older nursing home residents.

To investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis, the prevalence of utilization of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements for diagnosis of osteoporosis, and prevalence of use of calcium and vitamin D supplements and other antiresorptive therapies for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in an academic nursing home. The charts of all women aged 56 years and older residing in an academic nursing home were analyzed by one of the authors for the prevalence of osteoporosis, the prevalence of use of BMD measurements to diagnose osteoporosis, and the prevalence of use of calcium and vitamin D supplements and other antiresorptive therapies for treatment of osteoporosis. Of 136 postmenopausal women, mean age 79 +/- 10 years, 66 (49%) had measurements of BMD. Of these 66 women, 31 (47%) had osteoporosis, 21 (32%) had osteopenia, and 14 (21%) had normal BMD. Elemental calcium carbonate 1500 mg daily was prescribed to 17 of 31 women (55%) with osteoporosis, to 12 of 21 women (57%) with osteopenia, to 2 of 14 women (14%) with normal BMD, and to 27 of 70 women (39%) with no BMD obtained. Any dose of calcium was prescribed to 78 of 136 elderly women (58%). Vitamin D supplements were prescribed to 13 of 31 women (42%) with osteoporosis, to 9 of 21 women (43%) with osteopenia, to 2 of 14 women (14%) with normal BMD, and to 20 of 70 women (29%) with no BMD obtained. Vitamin D supplements were prescribed to 44 of 136 elderly women (32%). Biphosphonates were prescribed to 19 of 31 women (61%) with osteoporosis. Of 20 women on medications that increased the risk of osteoporosis, 6 (30%) had BMD measured. Nine of these 20 women (45%) were on calcium supplements. Older postmenopausal women in an academic nursing home have a high prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia, a low prevalence of measurement of BMD, and underuse of calcium, vitamin D supplements, and other antiresorptive therapies for treatment of osteoporosis.