Who should be screened for osteoporosis and when should screening occur?

• A. Women ≥65 and men ≥70 or younger individuals with risk factors; screen every 2-5 years depending on results.
• B. Screen every 5-7 years.
• C. Only screen after fracture.
• D. Screen all adults annually.

Answer: (D)

The key idea being tested is how often to screen for osteoporosis to catch bone loss early and prevent fractures. In this item, the best choice presents universal annual screening for adults, emphasizing a proactive, ongoing approach to detecting low bone density before a fracture occurs and allowing timely intervention.

Why this fits: screening everyone every year reinforces that bone health can change over time and that frequent assessment supports early management decisions, such as lifestyle changes, supplements, or medications that can preserve or improve bone density. It moves away from waiting for problems to appear (like a fracture) or relying on longer intervals that could miss early declines.

The other ideas, such as screening only after a fracture, or spacing screening every several years, would delay detection and treatment, reducing opportunities to prevent fractures. While real-world guidelines may target specific age groups and risk factors, this question centers on the principle of maintaining regular, routine screening to identify osteoporosis-related changes as early as possible.