An approach to the patient with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is recognised as a public health problem the world over. There is increasing awareness about this problem in Malaysia and this is particularly important, as our population gets older. This brief review aims to highlight the important aspects of history taking as well as the investigative approach to the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The modalities of bone mineral density measurements particularly with regards to the diagnosis and the monitoring of the disease are also discussed.