Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that affects over 10 million adults in the United States. Osteoporosis may lead to an increased risk of fractures due to weakening bone tissue, structure, and strength. Screening and evaluation are important to help diagnose osteoporosis. There is no cure for osteoporosis; however, several FDA-approved medications can help reduce fracture rates for patients with osteoporosis. Current FDA-approved pharmacologic options include bisphosphonates, estrogen-related therapy, parathyroid hormone analogs, RANK-ligand inhibitor, sclerostin inhibitor, and calcitonin salmon. Along with medications, several lifestyle modifications can help reduce fracture risks in patients with osteoporosis or low bone density.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- List the T-score values for patients with normal, low bone mass, and osteoporosis
- Identify medication classes that may contribute to or worsen osteoporosis
- Explain mechanisms of action for medications used to treat osteoporosis Describe lifestyle modifications to help decrease the risk of fractures
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Overview of Osteoporosis
III. Prevalence
IV. Bone Pathophysiology and Osteoporosis
V. Osteoporosis Screening Recommendations
VI. Diagnostic Criteria
1. Postmenopausal Women and Men Aged 50 and Older
2. Premenopausal Women and Men less than 50 Years of Age
VII. Risk Factors
1. Non-modifiable Risk Factors
2. Modifiable Risk Factors
VIII. Polypharmacy Concerns
IX. Fall and Fracture Reducing Lifestyle Modifications
X. Quality of Life Impacts
XI. Patient Education and General Treatment Considerations
XII. Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Osteoporosis
XIII. Pharmacologic Treatment Options
1. Preventative Vitamins and Minerals
2. Agents Inhibiting Bone Resorption
XIV. Treatment and Monitoring Considerations
XV. The Patient, Osteoporosis, and the Interdisciplinary Team
XVI. Summary
From May 16, 2023 through May 16, 2026, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Amanda Mayer, PharmD, Anna S. Smith, MPH, BSN-RN, Jeff Goldberg, PharmD, BCPP, and Pamela M. Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS, was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".