"Too few women at high risk for osteoporosis are being tested for the bonedepleting condition while too many women at lowrisk are being screened a new study suggests. A team led by Dr. Anna Lee Amarnath of the University of California Davis examined the medical records of nearly  women aged  to  living in the Sacramento area. The researchers looked at whether or not women were getting a dualenergy Xray absorptiometry DXA test which measures bone mineral density. The result Osteoporosis screening rates jumped sharply at age  despite guidelines suggesting that screening only begin at age  unless a woman has certain risk factors. However the study also found that those risk factors  a small body frame a history of fractures or taking medications that could thin bones  had only a slight effect on a womans decision to get her bones tested. Over seven years more than  percent of eligible women aged  to  were not screened Amaraths team found nor were nearly  percent of those older than .  However nearly  percent of lowrisk women aged  to  were screened as were  percent of lowrisk women aged  to . The study was published online May  in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. DXA screening was underused in women at increased fracture risk including women aged  years and older. Meanwhile it was common among women at low fracture risk such as younger women without osteoporosis risk factors Amarnath said in a journal news release. What to do Reminder notes to doctors and patients might help one expert said. Health systems should invest in developing electronic health records systems that prompt providers at the pointofcare when screening is needed and when it can be postponed study senior author Joshua Fenton an associate professor of family and community medicine at UC Davis said in the news release. More information The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about osteoporosis httpfamilydoctor.orgfamilydoctorendiseasesconditionsosteoporosis.printerview.all.html. SOURCE Journal of General Internal Medicine news release May"