Life

How do you read a bone density test in Canada?

Charlie Ross
Life

How do you read a bone density test in Canada?

How do you read a bone density test in Canada?

Below normal is always indicated with a minus (-) sign. A T-score below 2.5 SDs indicates osteoporosis and a score between 1 and 2.5 SDs indicates “osteopenia” or low bone density. Normal bone density is no more than 1 SD below the young adult normal value.

What is a serious bone density score?

A T-score within 1 SD (+1 or -1) of the young adult mean indicates normal bone density. A T-score of 1 to 2.5 SD below the young adult mean (-1 to -2.5 SD) indicates low bone mass. A T-score of 2.5 SD or more below the young adult mean (more than -2.5 SD) indicates the presence of osteoporosis.

What bone percentage should I have?

3-5%
Bone content is the percentage of bone mineral as compared to total body weight. The average bone content for adults is 3-5%. This measurement is good to keep track over a long period of time as bone mass can decline slowly with age.

What is osteoporosis score?

Osteoporosis — People with osteoporosis have a T-score of -2.5 or less. Larger numbers (eg, -3.0) indicate lower bone density because this is a negative number. The lower the bone density, the greater the risk of fracture.

What are the T-score and Z-score on a bone density scan?

DEXA scores are reported as “T-scores” and “Z-scores.” The T-score is a comparison of a person’s bone density with that of a healthy 30-year-old of the same sex. The Z-score is a comparison of a person’s bone density with that of an average person of the same age and sex.

What does a bone density score tell you?

Identify decreases in bone density before you break a bone

  • Determine your risk of broken bones (fractures)
  • Confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis if you’ve experienced broken bones
  • Monitor osteoporosis treatment

    • What is a normal bone density score?

    • If your T-score is –1 or greater: your bone density is considered normal. • If your T-score is between –1 and –2.5: you have low bone density, known as osteopenia, but not osteoporosis. • If your T-score is –2.5 or less: you have osteoporosis, even if you haven’t yet broken a bone. Image: izusek/Getty Images

    How do you calculate the density of a bone?

    Lost height. People who have lost at least 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) in height may have compression fractures in their spines,for which osteoporosis is one of the main causes.

  • Fractured a bone. Fragility fractures occur when a bone becomes so fragile that it breaks much more easily than expected.
  • Taken certain drugs.
  • Had a drop in hormone levels.

    • How to interpret your bone density test score?

    A score of –1.0 to+1.0 means you have normal bone density.

  • A score between –1.0 to –2.5 means you have low bone density (osteopenia).
  • A score of –2.5 or below means you have osteoporosis.