Pan Arab Osteoporosis Society Guidelines for Osteoporosis Management

Abstract

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in humans. With its related fragility fracture, it represents a major public health problem in our region, with a significant medical and socioeconomic burden. The high prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency, the increase in life expectancy, the low socioeconomic level and the significant restriction to access to health care in some countries represent the major causes for the increasing prevalence of osteoporosis and incidence of fragility fractures in the Arabic countries. Bone mineral density (BMD) assessment is the gold standard to diagnose osteoporosis. However, a clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis may be made in the presence of a fragility fracture, without BMD measurement. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the preferred method for screening bone mineral density. For screening site of measurement, DXA of hip and spine is suggested. BMD assessment is recommended in all women 65 years of age and older and men 70 and older regardless of risk factors. Younger subjects with clinical risk factors and persons with clinical evidence of osteoporosis or diseases leading to osteoporosis should also be screened. These guidelines are aimed to provide to health care professionals in the region of an updated process for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. It includes risk factors for osteoporosis and the indications for screening, diagnosis of osteoporosis, treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal and premenopausal women, and men; in addition to prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: 2023 key updates from the Saudi Osteoporosis Society

“…Similar findings were found in a study done in another tertiary-center where post-fracture care was not optimal especially among men [ 43 ]. Worthy to note is that the first Saudi guidelines in 2015 did not have recommendation for FLS, but over time, this has been included in regional consensus statements [ 4 , 5 ]. At present, only few institutions in SA provide FLS.…”

“…The first official osteoporosis guideline was published by the Saudi Osteoporosis Society (SOS) in 2015 and was drafted by 14 key opinion leaders in the field [ 3 ]. At a regional level, the SOS, together with its counterparts, spearheaded the formation of osteoporosis guidelines/consensus report within the wider Pan-Arab region as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc [ 4 , 5 ]. A key missing gap in all the documents mentioned is the lack of country-specific fracture risk assessment (FRAX) models.…”