Bone mineral density testing: How often?
In 2008, the long-term Study of Osteoporotic Fractures found that a repeat BMD test after eight years was no more helpful in predicting new fractures than the original measurement. Now, findings from that study indicate that older, postmenopausal women with normal bone density or mild osteopenia may not need a second scan for at least 15 years. (Osteopenia is bone mass that's lower than normal but not full-blown osteoporosis.)
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