Japanese 2011 guidelines for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis—executive summary

INTRODUCTION In 1998, the first Japanese practice guidelines on osteoporosis was published. It has been updated several times, with the most recent being the full-scale 2011 edition and its abridged edition. The present guidelines provide information for the managements of primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men over 50 years old, a summary of the evidence for the treatment of secondary osteoporosis, and a summary of the evidence for the prevention of osteoporosis in younger people. METHOD The present Executive Summary is primarily based on the content of the 2011 Japanese abridged edition. One of the key changes is revision of the criteria for initiation of pharmacological treatment, along with an introduction of the fracture risk factors used in FRAX®. Key figures and tables were selected from the Japanese abridged edition and a reference list was added. RESULT AND CONCLUSIONS The essential points of the Japanese practice guidelines on osteoporosis were translated into English for the first time. It is hoped that the content of the guidelines becomes known throughout the world.