Osteoporosis and the T-Score

Joyce Reynolds: Osteoporosis
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Institutional Affiliations
Course Name and Number
Due Date
Joyce Reynolds: Osteoporosis
What is the significance of the T-score?
T-score is the measure that determines the rate at which the bone mass deviates from the normal. Its use is fundamental in demonstrating whether a patient has an increased risk for osteoporosis (Arcangelo et al., 2017). It also informs the start of pharmacological treatment.
Explain the T-score result to Joyce.
A t-score range of -1 to -2.5 confirms osteopenia (Arcangelo et al., 2017). A score of -3.0 indicates an increased weakening of the bones.
Differentiate the three types of osteoporosis. How does this apply to Joyce?
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is commonplace in women aged 50 -75 in their postmenopausal period, while senile one affects all genders beyond 70 years (Arcangelo et al., 2017). Finally, secondary osteoporosis emerges from medications and illnesses and affects everyone, irrespective of age. Joyce’s case fits within the postmenopausal osteoporosis criteria.
What are Joyce’s risk factors for osteoporosis?
Joyce’s non-modifiable risk factors include her age of 57 and gender (Tański et al., 2021). However, her smoking history is a modifiable risk factor.
Is Joyce a candidate for initiating drug therapy according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) guidelines? Explain.
Joyce should be starting her drug therapy because her test results satisfy the set criteria by NOF. For instance, her t-scores at the femoral neck are already beyond the range of -1 and -2.5 at -3.0 (Arcangelo et al., 2017). She also meets the threshold of having a hip fracture’s 10-year probability of more than 3% and a minimum of 20% for major osteoporosis-linked fractures by recording 5% and 30%, respectively, in these f...