Statistical Brief Covers Use of Preventive Osteoporosis Scans Among Women

In 2022, less than half of all women aged 50 and older who did not have an existing diagnosis of osteoporosis reported having ever received a bone density scan, as did less than 25 percent of women aged 50 to 64. A new statistical brief from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey project discusses the use of preventive bone density scans among women who have not yet been diagnosed with osteoporosis. While these scans are currently recommended for all women aged 65 and older, some providers have found that beginning them around age 50, when menopause typically occurs, allows for more effective interventions. The brief explores the proportion of women who have received preventive bone density scans and compares them across insurance types, income levels, and other characteristics. 

Learn more in Bone Density Scan (DEXA) Utilization Among Women Without Diagnosed Osteoporosis Aged 50 and Older in the United States, 2022.