"So we can kind of build this," he said. "It makes sense if I can find an at-risk woman, and [the drug] benefits her."

For men, studies are underway to figure out if fracture-preventing drugs work, Calonge said.


"By the time we come out with another update, we'll provide additional information," he said.

In the paper, the task force also analyzed the various risk-classification tools used to determine fracture risk, including FRAX, developed by the World Health Organization.

While the USPSTF recommends using FRAX, the group said the evidence suggests complex measures, like FRAX, don't perform better than simple ones. Measures that simply look at age, weight and family fracture history perform just as well as more involved tests, Calonge said.

Still, FRAX does have advantages. "It's available over the Web, it's free and it's developed internationally by the World Health Organization. And you can complete it with information a patient herself, or in case of men, himself, would know," he said.

The proposed recommendations will be available for comment for four weeks after July 5.

Back to HCB News

More Industry Headlines