There are a number of factors that increase fracture risk in men. The primary risk factors include:
- Prior fracture with minimal trauma after age 40, especially vertebral compression fractures
- Glucocorticoid use (such as prednisone and cortisone) for more than three months. Diseases that are often
treated with glucocorticoid medications include rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, Crohn's disease, colitis, and
obstructive pulmonary disease.
Other key risk factors include:
- Excess alcohol (consistently more than two drinks a day)
- Primary or secondary hypogonadism (low levels of male hormones). Hypogonadism puts a man at risk at any
age.
- Family history of osteoporotic fracture
- Low BMI (Body Mass Index)
Younger men may experience bone loss because of another health condition or as a side effect of a
medication. Men who have these secondary causes for bone loss (see below) and other key risks for fracture
should also have a bone mineral density test. Secondary causes of bone loss:
- Primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism
- Medical conditions that inhibit absorption of nutrients, such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel
disease
- Malignancy (e.g., myeloma or bony metastasis)
- Hepatic insufficiency (liver functions below normal range)
Learn more about men and osteoporosis :
