What is Missing in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis Including the Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic?

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a civilization disease characterized by an increased risk of bone fractures as a result of progressive bone loss. The diagnosis of osteoporosis and the assessment of fracture risk are based on a medical examination, imaging diagnostics and laboratory tests. Identifying people at risk is a priority in preventive treatment, and people with already diagnosed osteoporosis require proper treatment. Osteoporotic fractures are the main cause of disability and thus a significant deterioration in the quality of life of patients, which is why the goals of osteoporosis treatment include the prevention of low-energy fractures and the overall improvement of the quality of life. Therefore, a long-term medical care strategy should be planned according to the individual risk of fracture for each patient. This article is an analysis of selected aspects of the principles of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in osteoporosis, which due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, were partially or completely omitted, or it was not possible to implement them properly.