Osteoporosis has threatened the lives of millions of Americans, but there is no effective diagnosis or treatment for the condition for either men or women, according to an expert at the American Association of Endocrinologists Annual Meeting and Clinical Summit held today in Philadelphia. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 300,000 hip fractures are caused by osteoporosis in hospitalizations each year, and that number is expected to increase to 500,000 by 2040. “Although we have made significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis over the past 20 years, there is still a lack of effective treatment strategies in the clinic,” said Michael McClung, MD, FACE, director of the Osteoporosis Center in Portland, Oregon. In recent years, clinical scientists have made substantial advances in understanding osteoporosis and its impact on specific populations. According to Dr. McClung, the medical community already has highly effective means of identifying men and women with osteoporosis, as well as a range of treatment options that can effectively reduce the risk of fracture. In addition, evidence-based medical guidelines, including those of the American Endocrine Society in osteoporosis, are feasible in guiding practice management. However, in our country, advances made in clinical research are difficult to put into practice in the clinic,” said Dr. McClung. Many junior physicians are simply unaware of the existence of national guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis and therefore do not take advantage of these resources. In addition, many patients and physicians are reluctant to take medication for osteoporosis because they are so concerned about the rare side effects caused by drug therapy,” said Dr. McClung, adding that the biggest challenge for clinicians is to translate the available clinical science on osteoporosis treatment into the day-to-day basis of routine clinical care. Endocrinologists are more specialized in the treatment of osteoporosis, but we need to seize the opportunity to help our clinical colleagues more easily manage their patients’ conditions,” Dr. McClung said. We need to share our experience with testing and treatment in guidelines and provide a clear perspective on the link between the benefits of treatment and the rare risks.