ABSTRACT
The development of strategies to prevent fragility fractures requires not only identifying risk factors responsible but documenting that proposed interventions can lower risk and improve outcomes. Both these domains have generated large amounts of complex, sometimes inconsistent literature. As indicated in previous chapters, a variety of individual risk factors has been associated with increased fracture risk. Principal among these, and the focus of much of the work on osteoporosis, is bone mineral density (BMD). The risk of fracture clearly increases as BMD declines. However, many clinical factors relating to fracture risk also contribute, including physical characteristics, such as age and weight, features of history like maternal or personal history of fracture, and such habits as exercise and smoking. As risk factors are multiple, so are possible approaches for reducing risk. These range from the pharmacologic interventions outlined in Chapter 5 to attempts to modify diet and habits to programs to reduce the incidence of falls.
