New guideline for better management of osteoporosis

An estimated 692,000 Australians have diagnosed osteoporosis and a new clinical guideline released by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners will assist with diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of osteoporosis in older people, Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said.

The new clinical guideline was released to mark National Musculoskeletal Awareness Week which runs from 28 March to 4 April 2010.

The clinical guideline, developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) with the support of the Rudd Government and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council, provides a comprehensive review of the management of osteoporosis based on the best available evidence.

Minister Elliot said: "The clinical guideline is designed to help GPs and other primary care professionals in managing and diagnosing patients with osteoporosis.

"The guideline is the fourth in a series developed by the RACGP to assist GPs with short-term care, long-term care planning and management and the coordination of multidisciplinary care needs for musculoskeletal conditions.

"GPs pay a central role in the diagnosis and ongoing care management of patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis so it is important that they have the tools they need available to them to improve patient outcomes.

"As with many other conditions, prevention, early detection and management of musculoskeletal conditions are important," Minister Elliot said.

A diet rich in calcium, vitamin D via moderate exposure to sunlight or supplements, and regular weight bearing exercise throughout childhood and adolescence can help prevent development of osteoporosis.

Minister Elliot said that with more than 3.6 million Australians affected by chronic arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions, National Musculoskeletal Awareness Week was a timely reminder that when it comes to musculoskeletal conditions, often a small investment in prevention can pay large dividends in the future.

This year, the Rudd Government will provide almost $30 million for research into arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions as well as funding treatments through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Download the Clinical Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women and Older Men.

(Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing: April 2010)