A review of bone mineral density scans referred by a community-based menopause clinic in 1997.

Osteoporosis is a growing public health issue for the UK's ageing population. Many older women want know if they are at risk of osteoporosis and if preventive treatment, particularly in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), would be advisable. This results in many women being referred for bone mineral density (BMD) scanning, whether or not they have recognised risk factors for osteoporosis. We present the results of a review of 228 referrals for BMD scan from a community-based menopause clinic. The results are categorised by the indications for the scan. The implications for the future of BMD investigations are considered in the light of ongoing discussion about population screening.