A 36-year-old member asked:
Can you tell me the difference between osteoporosis and osteopenia?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Susan Wingoanswered
Endocrinology 35 years experience
Severity: Both osteopenia and osteoporosis indicate there is too little calcium in the bone. Osteoporosis is more severe, and suggests a higher risk for future fractures (broken bones), compared to osteopenia, or normal bone. Depending on other risk factors, medical treatment is usually recommended for osteoporosis, and sometimes advised for osteopenia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed Aug 02, 2021
Dr. Aaron Neinsteinanswered
Internal Medicine 16 years experience
T-scores different: Osteoporosis is defined by a t-score of less than -2.5 on a bone density test (dexa). T-score compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30 year old woman, and describes the number of standard deviations you are away from that score. It is a disease where you have an increased risk of fracture. Osteopenia referred to a t-score between -1.5 and -2.5, but its use has fallen out of favor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 42-year-old member asked:
What is the difference between osteopenia, osteoporosis?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. PHILIP WALLERanswered
Rheumatology 35 years experience
Less bone loss: Osteopenia is the term we give to the amount of bone loss that occurs in a patient with t scores between -1 and -2.5 based on the world health organization's criteria for measuring bone loss. The more negative the t score, the more bone loss has occurred. If a T-score is between 0 and -1, this bone density would still be considered normal. I hope that helped answer your qquestion.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 2, 2021
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